The administration remains firm on its decision to dismantle the temple, emphasising the importance of adhering to regulations even in matters of religious structures.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Authorities have served a notice for the demolition of a ‘Ram temple’ constructed on the rooftop of privately-owned property in the Bharuch city of Gujarat.
Scrap merchant Mohanlal Gupta, taking whiff of the current fervour in the country over the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, decided to do something to avoid demolition that caught even the Bharuch-Ankleshwar Urban Development Authority (BAUDA) officials off-guard.
The temple on Gupta’s property, is adorned with statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. The administration accuses Gupta of violating regulations, reports reaching here said on Wednesday.
The temple drew attention not only for its alleged unauthorised construction but also for the unique addition of statues portraying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as gatekeepers.
Gupta claims to have spent around 2 million rupees on the project. Reportedly, he pledged to build the temple on the lines of Ram Mandir in in Ayodhya, and others in the community followed suit, erecting similar structures in their homes.
However, the administration deems the temple in violation of guidelines, prompting the issuance of a notice on January 22 for its demolition.
The statues of Modi and Yogi have been strategically placed at the entrance, symbolising their role as guardians to prevent the temple’s collapse. According to Gupta, this move was to showcase their active involvement and support for the temple’s construction.
While Gupta insists that the temple is a result of a vow he took, the authorities argue that it violates regulations, leading to the decision to demolish the structure.
According to an Indian Express report, BAUDA has now given Gupta a week to submit necessary documents. However, according to Gupta, Jitendra Oza, from whom he had bought the property last year, had already taken permission for the construction from Gadkhol Gram Panchayat in 2012.
Gupta, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, alleged that envious people have complained against the structure. “I have made changes to the property by demolishing some parts. There are some people who are jealous of me and are threatening to get the structure demolished. They have also demanded money from me. They reside in a residential society far from our Riddhi Siddhi society,” Indian Express quoted Gupta as saying.
The administration remains firm on its decision to dismantle the temple, emphasising the importance of adhering to regulations even in matters of religious structures. The involvement of political figures like Modi and Yogi as symbolic gatekeepers adds an unusual twist to the unfolding situation.
