ASI official wields saffron against saffron

“The RSS is always ready to protect Indian culture. It’s unfortunate that though there is a BJP Government in MP the illegal mining continues threatening the very existence of the ancient temples,” Muhammed wrote to Sudershan on October 15.

Muhammed said he sought the intervention of the RSS because he had exhausted all other options. He had written twice to MP’s Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma requesting him to stop the illegal mining and also wrote to the district magistrate and superintendent of police in Morena district. Though he did not take names, he alleged that the ruling party was unable to stop mining because some powerful politicians were involved.

Soni told The Indian Express over phone on Wednesday that she was concerned about the temples and would take up the issue with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after getting all details. “I have asked the DG of ASI to collect all facts immediately,” she said. When asked how justified was the ASI official’s SOS to the RSS, she said she would not comment on it before getting all details.

After the unprecedented SOS, Sudershan is believed to have got in touch with the MP Government, which immediately got into action.

Sharma said he was not aware if the RSS chief got in touch with the Chief Minister but the Government had succeeded in stopping mining in the past few days. He said that various departments like mining and forests had kept a vigil near the temples. Police sources confirmed that some equipment were seized from Padavali village.

Sharma said the Government had cancelled 12 mining leases but two leaseholders successfully appealed in the court. He said only official lease holders were operating but the Government had taken steps to prevent all illegal mining.