Bihar State Board of Religious Trust (BSBRT) member and JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said that while the Nitish Kumar government has taken up the fencing of around 300 temples to prevent theft and encroachments, over 2,400 temples were either “removed or relocated” during the Narendra Modi government’s tenure. Neeraj Kumar, chief spokesperson of JD(U) in Bihar, told The Indian Express, “Under BSRTC, there are about 5,500 registered temples and mutts, and of them, 355 temples have to be fenced. Fencing of 205 temples have been done, work is under way for fencing 54 temples.” Pointing out the secular nature in governance, Kumar said the Nitish Kumar dispensation has been fencing not only temples but also cemeteries. Kumar said that central government data show 2,416 temples, including 1,289 in Gujarat, 688 in UP and 375 in Rajasthan have been removed for road construction and expansion during the NDA regime since 2014. BJP OBC Morcha National General Secretary, Nikhil Anand, said: “After the JD(U) joined hands with RJD, people of Bihar are determined to get rid of this unholy alliance. The dark era of the 90’s is not forgotten.”
