VHP protests move to demolish Ranchi temples
By IANSFriday, August 27, 2010
RANCHI - Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP) activists held a protest here Friday against the Ranchi district administration’s move to demolish 39 temples constructed on government land and has also called a shutdown Sunday on the issue.
“We burnt the effigy symbolising officials of the Ranchi district administration today. The move to demolish the temples is like a Tughlaqi diktat,” Ganga Yadav, a senior VHP leader, told IANS.
“We have called a shutdown on Sunday to protest the administration’s move to demolish the temples.”
As many as 39 temples constructed on government land in Ranchi district have been issued notices asking why they should not be pulled down, an official said Friday.
Some of the temples are more than 50 to 60 years old and thousands of people visit them every day.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner K.K. Soan told reporters that the temples had been served show cause notice following a direction of the Supreme Court to survey unauthorised temples constructed on government land and remove them.
Hindu organisations have expressed shock over the district administration’s move.
