Temple Trustees take serious objection to Govt’s Demolition drive.

Decide to unitedly protest under the banner of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on the 9th of January 2011

Bangaluru (Karnataka) : In connection with the State Government decision to demolish more than 5000 temples and other places of worship in Karnataka HJS Bengaluru had held a Press Meet on the 27th of December 2010 to announce a massive protest in Bangaluru against this hasty action. Later the Samiti’s members came in contact with many Temple Trustees in different parts of Bangaluru. Many of the trustees, Priests were unaware of the government’s decision and decided to conduct informal meet to confront the situation unitedly.  They later held the meeting under the guidance of the Samiti’s members.

Meeting at Konanakunte

Trustees and devotees – Malleswaram

Konananakunte :

The meeting was held at Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple in Konanakunte, Bangaluru South on Sunday the 2^nd  of January 2011 and organised under the initiative of Mr. Rama Murthy trustee of the temple. More than 15 devout Hindus including 7 trustees, 2 archaks and devotees from temples in the surrounding area participated in the meeting. The meeting started with pooja to the presiding deity, followed by prayers for removal of obstacles coming in the way of saving the temple. This followed by Jaijai-kar by all the assembled members. Mr. Chandra Moger, Coordinator HJS Bengaluru, Mr. Somashekaraiah, Mr. Sadashiv, was the members who participated and guided the trustees on behalf of HJS.

The meeting decided to face the situation unitedly and awaken the Devotees about the issue. For this purpose they also proposed to sponsor the flex, posters and hand bills proposed to be brought out by the Samiti. They also decided to participate in the protest march on the 9th of January 2011 and bring the banner of the respective temples.

Snippets :

1. The Trustee of Sri Muneeswara Temple who was extremely concerned had stopped taking food and water after hearing about the news that the temple is under the list of unauthorized temples. He had to be persuaded by the other trustees to take food.
2. The tabloid Karnataka Watch had given two pages coverage on the topic and the Asst. Editor of the tabloid Mr. Guruprasad distributed the paper to all the trustees.

Yelahanka :

The trustees from this area coming in Bangalore North met at the Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple in Yelahanka on Saturday the 1^st of January 2011. Mr. Chandra Moger coordinator, HJS Bengaluru and Mr. Mohan Gowda, Spokesperson, HJS Karnataka told the trustees about the ill effects of demolishing temples and also reminded that though the Supreme Court had given three options in connection with the in unauthorized places of worship in Public places, the State Government had choose the demolition option directly without exploring other options.

Mr. Venkatesh, Secretary of the temple incensed by the Government’s decision told that he would bring 100 devotees for the protest. Later the trustees volunteered to take the Samiti members to other temples in the area and also sponsored 10 flex regarding the protest for creating awareness.

Malleswaram :

Mr. Chandra Moger, and Mr. Guruprasad addressed the trustees, priests and devotees of temples in this area at the Jambu Ganapathi Temple on the 4th of January 2011. Mr. Raju, one of the trustee suggested that all the temples should take legal recourse for this issue along with the protest. They also decided to give wide publicity and make the save temple protest march a success. All the trustees came to the meeting at short notice when the Samiti members called them up after the venue was fixed.

Snippets:

Mr. Dinesh, the trustee of Sri Ganesha Temple which has been mentioned in the list of unauthorized temples, mentioned that his temple is well within his property. He questioned as to how the authorities can list it as unauthorized. He also challenged the authorities to shift or demolish an unauthorized chappal repair shop on the foot path right in front of the temple.

Meanwhile the Samiti’s members have been invited by the Temple trustees to address the trustees in Mahalakshmi Layout, Vidyaranyapura and other areas in Bengaluru. Many Hinduttvavadi organisations also have supported the campaign.

Source: Our Correspondent