Demolition Of A 300-Year-Old Temple In Alwar During Anti-Encroachment Drive Sparks Controversy

A massive political controversy has erupted in Rajasthan after a 300-year-old Shiva temple was demolished using bulldozers in Sarai Mohalla, Alwar district.

The demolition was carried out on Monday as part of what the local administration called an anti-encroachment drive.

Along with the Shiva temple, 86 shops and homes were also demolished with bulldozers, to clear the way for a road.

Congress-style secularism¡­

300-year-old Lord Shiva temple demolished in the name of development in Rajasthan¡¯s Alwar. pic.twitter.com/05IcQcHbBC

¡ª Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) April 22, 2022

Blame game between BJP and Congress

The video of the temple demolition went viral on social media, with the BJP accusing the ruling Congress of targeting Hindus.

Alwar's BJP MP Balaknath alleged that the idols at one of the temples too were damaged in the demolition.

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Following the controversy, the district administration claimed that an unanimous decision was taken during the municipality meeting to remove the illegal encroachments on the roadside.

"Before the encroachment drive, the temple priests shifted the idols to another place," said District Magistrate Shivprasad Nakate.

The Congress, however blamed it on the Rajgarh Municipality, which is ruled by the BJP.

ANI

Alwar district administration issues statement

Alwar district administration has issued the incident-wise and factual report of illegal encroachment removed in the Rajgarh Municipality area on April 17, 2022, saying that no religious discrimination has been done in removing encroachment, said a press release.

The meeting of the Municipality Board on September 6, 2021, unanimously decided to remove the obstacles according to the master plan, added the press release.

During the removal of encroachments, action was taken on two pre-built temples. Out of which one temple, which was built recently, was completely built on top of the existing drain.

During the removal of encroachments on April 17, 2022, and April 18, 2022, no valid construction of any person was demolished. During the removal of the encroachment, no protest was expressed nor did any law and order situation arise, stated the press release.

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Rajgarh Municipality Chairman Satish Guria on Friday termed accusations against him over the demolition of a temple in Alwar as baseless.

He said that Rajgarh Municipality has never been mentioned in its proposal to demolish temples.

"Accusations against me and the board are baseless. The board never mentioned in its proposal to demolish temples... Everything was done by the administration... Congress has never had a board in Rajgarh, it's their dream," Guria told ANI.

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Bulldozers back in spotlight

The incident comes at a time when the use of bulldozers to raze 'illegal structures' have come under scrutiny.

In Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi's Jahangirpuri, the local administrations have used bulldozers to demolish alleged illegal structures owned by those involved in rioting in recent days.

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