Demolition of temples justified

Vijayawada: Speakers at a round-table meeting on ‘Demolition of temples’ appealed to the political parties not to communalise the issue. They justified the removal of temples built on the roadside causing inconvenience to the flow of traffic in the urban areas.

Referring to the demolition of temples in the city in the recent past as part of Krishna Pushkaram arrangements, the speakers took strong exception to the Swamijis and some of the parties raising their voice and trying to gain political mileage out of it.

Starting the debate here on Thursday, senior advocate Sunkara Rajendra Prasad said that the Supreme Court on several occasions had categorically told the governments not to allow temples coming up on the roadside.

At one point of time, the Supreme Court had said that putting up a temple and installing an idol of God on the roadside is an insult to the Lord,” he said and wondered why the officials were allowing temples to come up on the roadside.

He also found fault with the people for building temples, mosques and churches on the roadside obstructing the flow of traffic and later making a hue and cry when they are removed. He also regretted that these temples have the support of one or the other ruling party who make big money from the donations.

The CPM city secretary, Donepudi Kasinath, said that the officials have displaced several thousands of families from the roadside, canal and river banks in the name of development. He said displacement of people is not development and wanted to know why the parties and people have kept mum to this while speaking on the displacement of temples. He said faith and religion have become part of politics as some parties were gaining votes by speaking about faith.

Film director and ‘Sangamam’ convener C Umamaheswara Rao expressed concern over the parties trying to create communal disturbance in the city when the unauthorised temples were removed from roadside. Stating that small temples under the control of individuals have come up all over the city occupying the roads, he justified their removal to give way for the people to use the roads.

However, he said that some forces were speaking only for temples aiming at creating communal unrest in the city. He cautioned people against falling into the trap of these communal forces in the name of God.Social worker Samanthakamani was in the chair. Praja Natyamandali singer R Pitchaiah, Rotarian Kolluru Venkat and others were present.