Demolition of temples causing distrust and hatred towards the government in the minds of people - Hindu Munnani state president
Coimbatore: Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswarar Subramaniam and Hindu Munnani temple heads met reporters at a press conference on Addis Road in Coimbatore.
He then said that “the demolition of Hindu temples would cause distrust of the government in the minds of the people and the government should immediately stop demolishing the temples.
The demolition of various Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu in the last few days is reprehensible. The Corporation has demolished three temples near Muthanankulam in Coimbatore, which has caused great distress to the minds of Hindus. One of these temples is one hundred years old and the other is 125 years old. There are temples on the banks of the river and on the banks of the pond from time to time. It is a Hindu tradition to bathe in the river and worship in temples.
How can these ancient temples be considered encroached? How can theyconsider a temple that is worshipped by devotees as occupied. Temples should not be demolished even if it’s in encroached land, and if there is a pressing need, the Adheenam’s should be consulted before demolishing.
The best way is to negotiate with the temple administration and then hand over the temple site to the government. But government officials do not adhere to this. Only Hindu temples are treated this way. Places of worship of other religions are located in various places owned by the state and in public places, but government officials take no action.”
They accused that the government's action is like putting butter in one eye and lime in the other. They said, In particular, the 1993 Parliament passed the Religious Site Protection Act. The law states that any places of worship that existed at the time of independence in 1947 may remain the same, that worship may continue, and that no one, not even the government, should demolish it for any reason. But, these corporation officials are violating that law.
The Tamil Nadu government should take legal action against these officials. Hindus have made temples the center of every event in their lives, all of their joys and sorrows. Ancestors have said not to live in a city without a temple. But the events that are currently taking place are very painful. These incidents have had a huge impact on the minds of Hindus around the world. We request the Government of Tamil Nadu to take note of this and stop the demolition of temples. It is learned that these officials are planning to demolish various temples not only in Coimbatore but also in Tamil Nadu. People are fighting against it."
They then listed the following:
1. 300 year-old Poo Mariamman Temple on the way to Basin Bridge Railway Station in Chennai.
2. Vazhavandal Temple is a 200 year old temple located in Ilandiyenthal area of Madurai district. They are trying to demolish many temples like this.
If such ancient temples continue to be demolished, the people will losefaith in the government. We therefore request the Government of Tamil Nadu to abandon these projects immediately.
Peruradinam Kayilai Punitha Thiruperundiru. Shantalinga Marudasala Adigalar, Dr. Thiruperundiru, President of Srivai Aadeenam-Kaumaramadam. Kumarakurubara Swamis, Varahi Peetham Saktasree Manikanda Swamis, Kamatsipuri Aadeenam Gnanakuru Saktha Sri Sivalingeswara Swamy were all present in the press meet.
What he failed to address is that people who lived in the bunds for a hundreds years, who built the temples in the bunds for their worship were forcefully evacuated last year. Back then none of these are organisations protested meaningfully for them or their relocation. Only leftist and Dalit parties were fighting for them. With the people who built and worshipped in those temples being evacuated last year, the corporation has just fulfilled the court order to evacuate temples in lake bunds and other water bodies which have been built illegally.