Modi gives in, puts off demolition drive

Following a “veiled threat” by VHP’s president Ashok Singhal, Chief Minister Narendra Modi directed the local authorities to put off the demolition drive of unauthorised religious structures in Gandhinagar and other parts of the state.

Following a “veiled threat” by VHP’s president Ashok Singhal, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday directed the local authorities to put off the demolition drive of unauthorised religious structures in Gandhinagar and other parts of the state. The Government announced its decision after an hour-long meeting between Modi and Singhal on Friday morning. Later, a Government spokesman said the exercise could be resumed in the days to come after reviewing the situation in “the right perspective”.

When confronted by media persons after the meeting, Singhal declined to comment on the Government’s decision to postpone the demolition drive.

Sources close to the VHP said that Singhal made a strong representation before Modi to stop the demolition of temples, which might snowball into a major agitation by Hindutva forces in Gujarat. Modi is learnt to have explained to the VHP chief the reasons behind the demolition drive of unuthorised temples that are mushrooming in the state capital.

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As the news of the Government putting the demolition campaign on hold reached the local residents of Gandhinagar, there was jubilation among those who were opposing the drive. In the evening, a group Mandir Bachao Samiti members, led by Maha Gujarat Janata Party chief Gordhan Zadaphiya, gathered near the Pathik Ashram and celebrated “the victory of Hindutva” by bursting fire crackers.

“The Government should pay adequate compensation to the trustees of the temples demolished during the drive, and allow them to reconstruct these temples. If the Government can regularise unauthorised slums and illegal commercial complexes by charging impact fees from the owners, the same can be done in the case of temples,” said Zadaphiya, who is a former minister of state for home.

Of the 396 unauthorised temples in Gandhinagar, 268 were razed during the demolition drive.

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