BJP to back Ranchi shutdown against temples demolitions

RANCHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended moral support to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-sponsored shutdown on Sunday to protest the Ranchi administration’s move to demolish 39 temples constructed on government land.

“Our party is against demolition of any temple in the state. We extend our moral support to the shutdown called by the VHP,” Raghubar Das, state BJP president, told IANS. He said: “It is shocking that temples will be demolished on a large scale in the state.”

The VHP Friday evening burnt effigies of officials of the Ranchi district administration to protest the proposed demolition of temples and called a shutdown on Sunday.

The Mahavir Mandal, another religious organisation, Saturday burnt effigies of Ranchi district administration officials at the Albert Ekka roundabout and shouted slogans against it.

“We will not allow the demolition of temples,” Uday Shankar Ojha, president of the Mahavir Mandal, told reporters here Saturday. The group has called a protest shutdown Sep 4.

Notices for demolitions have been issued against as many as 39 temples illegally constructed on government lands in Ranchi district. Some of these temples are more than 50 years old and are visited by thousands of people.

According to officials, the move follows directions of the Supreme Court, which asked the state government to survey temples/mosques constructed on government land and take measures to remove these.

Hindu organisations have expressed shock over the district administration’s move.