The statements of the residents are in contradiction with reports in some news outlets and Hindutva supporters
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Hindu residents, whose family played a role in taking care of an inactive temple recently revived by the administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, have said there has been no encroachment of the religious place after it was left unused in 2006.
“The temple keys were always with the Rastogi family, and there was no fear of Muslims or anyone. The temple was as it was, and there was no encroachment,” said Dharmendra Rastogi, a member of the Rastogi family, the caretaker of the temple.
He further said that the room next to the temple, which some reports have mentioned, was also built by their family long before they left the area in 2006.
The statements made by Rastogi about the temple are in contradiction with reports in some news outlets and the supporters of Hindutva. He also dispelled the claims that the Hindu family were forced to flee the area due to fear of Muslims.
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Dharmendra’s son also echoed his father’s observation, saying, “There was never any fear from local Muslims. The temple was well-maintained, and there was never any encroachment. The room next to the temple was built by us as a godown, and we handed over the keys to the police when they asked for them.”
Local resident Pradeep Verma pointed out that, “The Rastogi family stayed in the same lane until 1993, and when they occasionally visited after that, they would regularly perform puja. The keys were always with them.”
He further said that no one in the area ever felt threatened.
