'Collect documents to prove existence of temples'

Samiti demands regularisation, if there are violations

Addressing a protest organised by the Samiti, against the government’s move of removing places of worship constructed illegally at public places, in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Monday,  Hindu Janajagruti Samiti State spokesperson Mohan Gowda said that devotees should collect documents including tax receipts, committee registration papers or any other details related to the listed temples to prove the existence.

He said that the government should not remove Hindu places of worship, even if it was built on government land since temples are spiritual centres. “Hindus should strive to protect temples at any cost,” he said

“Instead of going ahead with the move of vacating places of worship, the government can modify the development plans, if temple structures pose impediment to the project.

The Central government had modified the plan of a National Highway project in New Delhi to protect a shrine belonging to one religion. Unfortunately it is the same government which is planning to destroy Sriram Setu for the smooth sail of ships,” he alleged adding that Government should ensure protection of all Hindu temples, daivastanas and bhajana mandirs by regularising the violations.

Samiti District Convener Ramesh Nayak said that the district administration had declared 640 temples as illegal and issued notice to vacate the buildings.

“Most of the temples in the list are of historical significance. Some temples, daivastanas, nagabanas and other places of worship have history of more than thousand years,” he added.

It is unfortunate that the government is trying to convert all major temples into tourist centres.

The move will only desecrate the sanctity of the temples, he said adding that devotees should unite to fight against this unholy move.

Innoli Temple Trustee Prof I V Rao, and former Zilla Panchayat Member Vinay Nayak spoke.