The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Agra issued a notice saying that if the Chamunda Templs located at Rajamandi Railway Station is not removed then the railway station will be shut. In its notice, the Railways has said the temple structure was causing inconvenience to passengers as well as affecting train movement.
DRM Anand Swarup said, ‘’If the illegal construction of 72 square meters temple is not removed from the platform, then the railway station can be closed in view of the safety of the passengers.’’
— DRM Agra (@DRM_Agra) April 26, 2022
The railway administration has given 10 days to the committee to displace the temple. There is resentment among the devotees and Hinduist organizations about displacing the temple.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have strongly objected to Indian Railways’ notice to the priest of Chamunda Devi temple in Agra in Uttar Pradesh asking for the removal of the temple from the platform as well as from railway land.
The VHP and Bajrang Dal have refused to remove the encroachment or shift the temple. Also, they have demanded the removal of the Divisional Railway Manager for attempting to shift the temple.
Railways issue order to relocate temple in Agra; devotees, religious groups irked
24th April 2022
A displacement order issued by the railway authorities in Agra to relocate a temple situated near the Raja Ki Mandi railway station has stirred up the sentiments of devotees, religious and Hindu groups of the city against the authorities.
As per the order, the Railway Authorities have asked the Chamunda Devi Mandir committee to relocate their premises from their current location within the next 10 days. The temple which has existed for many many years at its present location, which touches the bounds of Raja Ki Mandi Railway station, is a major religious place for the city residents.
The temple, which also has many legends associated with it, is said to have existed since the days of British rule in India. Some say that British authorities also tried to displace the temple but couldn’t do so and hence the railway line had to be diverted around its premises.
Previously, a similar notice was sent to the Mandir management committee in 2011 citing the temple to be an encroachment of the land owned by railway department.
The management committee had responded to the notice, as a result of which a committee was formed that concluded that the temple had existed before the railway line was laid, thereby clearing it of encroachment allegations.
The head priest of the temple, Shri Nandagiri Maharaj, has stated that even after being cleared, railway authorities have continued to send notices to the temple committee in order to hurt the religious sentiments of devotees. He also said that he would request Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take note of the matter and solve the problem as religious sentiments are involved.
Source : India Today
