The JD(U) and the BJP have locked horns over the removal of temples as part of clearing encroachments from roads, with the latter objecting to the removal of a 350-year-old temple in Patna, and the former retorting that several temples had been removed from national highways and other locations with the Centre’s approval. The row kicked off when Union minister Giriraj Singh, the BJP MP from Begusarai, threatened a stir to protest the Bihar government’s decision to remove the 350-year-old temple that stands in the middle of Patna’s Ashok Rajpath road, where a flyover is coming up. JD(U) MLC and former minister Neeraj Kumar asked why Singh was not opposing the removal of temples along national highways. “First, the alignment of the proposed flyover on Ashok Rajpath was cleared by BJP MLA Nitin Nabin when he was road construction minister. Second, when the matter of removing temples from roads had come up in 2018, several BJP-ruled states had told the courts concerned that temples could be removed,” Kumar told The Indian Express. Citing central government data, he said, “I want to know from Giriraj Singh why he did not oppose the removal of 15 temples during elevation and repair work between Simaria and Khagaria along NH-31.” “In fact, several temples had been removed to clear encroachments in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Karnataka and Assam. We respect all religions and our government has shifted several temples, gurudwaras and churches when they had to be removed to clear encroachments in the recent past,” Kumar added, accusing the BJP of raising the temple pitch to divert public attention from issues of governance. Kumar, who is also a member of the Bihar State Religious Trust Council, also alleged that no BJP MP or MLA had contributed to the repair and development of the historic Patan Devi temple, adding that six JD(U) legislators had contributed Rs 7.75 crore for the same. “Notably, JD(U) MLC Aafaq Ahmad donated Rs 50 lakh, thus reaffirming our belief and respect in the shared culture and tradition of our communities,” said Neeraj. However, BJP national general secretary (OBC Morcha) Nikhil Anand said the centuries-old structure on Ashok Rajpath should be exempted from removal in the name of encroachment. “There are policies, but there are exceptions also. One cannot remove the 350-year-old structure just because it is within the encroachment area or town planning area. Will the Bihar government remove many mosques or mazars that come in the way of a national highway? (Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar should give one example where any mosque or mazar has been removed in the name of development in Bihar. This historical site, which is basically a temple, is being removed to send a message to a certain section of society in the name of appeasement.” Both the BJP and the JD(U) have been at loggerheads ever since Ever since Bageshwar Dham peethadhish Dhirendra Krishna Shastri visited Patna earlier this month for five days of preaching sessions, the JD(U) and the BJP have been at loggerheads. While JD(U) took digs at several senior BJP leaders for attending Shastri’s sessions, the BJP hit back saying everyone was free to profess their faith. The BJP had also criticised the Nitish Kumar government for not allotting Patna’s Gandhi Maidan for Shastri’s event, which was instead held in Naubatpur, on the outskirts of Patna.
