Have spoken with Railways, Dadar Hanuman temple won’t be demolished: BJP leaders
Mumbai, Dec 14: A day after Uddhav Thackeray slammed the BJP over a demolition notice issued by the Railways to a temple outside Mumbai’s Dadar station, ruling party leaders claimed on Saturday that they have got it stayed.
BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the Dadar Hanuman temple will be protected.
Lodha visited the shrine near Platform No. 12 at Dadar East, adjacent to the Central Railway station. He interacted with the temple trustees and joined the ‘aarti’.
MLA Kalidas Kolambkar and members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad were also present at the temple.
Lodha said he had spoken with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and an order has been issued to halt the demolition.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Thackeray on Friday claimed that Railways had issued a ‘fatwa’ (edict) to bring down the 80-year-old Hanuman temple built by porters. Taking a dig at the BJP’s “ek hai to safe hai” slogan, he said even temples are not safe in the saffron party’s regime.
After his temple visit, Lodha, who represents the Malabar Hill assembly constituency in the city, told reporters that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and Maharashtra listen to the concerns over Hindutva and that of the people.
“We understand the sentiments of the Hindu community regarding this temple, and I assure you that no harm will come to this sacred place. Since we learnt about the situation, BJP leaders, and Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers have all been in contact with railway minister Vaishnaw,” he said.
The BJP leader said they have made every effort to protect the temple and would continue to do so.
“Any attempt to politicise religious sentiments has been thwarted before it could succeed, and we have successfully saved the temple,” he asserted.
In a notice dated December 4 to the trustee/pujari of the temple, the Railways said the structure was an encroachment and constructed without authorisation on land owned by it.
These structures are affecting the movement of commuters and vehicular traffic. It is also obstructing the construction of infrastructure works at Dadar station, it said. The Railways had given a seven-day notice for the removal of the structure.
Lodha said the notice has been stayed.
His party colleague and former MP Kirit Somaiya also visited the temple. He told the trustees that the railway officials had assured him the temple wouldn’t be demolished.
Attacking Thackeray, Somaiya told reporters that those who put devotees of the deity in jail for chanting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ eventually have to surrender before Lord Hanuman, referring to the arrest of former MP Navneet Rana in Mumbai two years ago.
“He has accepted Sajjad Nomani, Ulema board, Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh and ‘vote jihad’ and should stay committed to them,” Somaiya said.
Meanwhile, former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale said he has written to Vaishnaw citing that a similar notice was issued a few years ago and was stopped after his intervention. He urged the Union minister to find a permanent solution to the matter saying that the temple is very popular among locals.
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Vijay secures majority support, set to stake claim to form Tamil Nadu govt
Chennai: After four days of political uncertainty and intense negotiations in Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay is learnt to have secured the numbers required to form the government, sources said.
Supporters gathered outside Vijay’s residence in Chennai on Friday evening, raising slogans in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam soon after reports emerged that the party had managed to secure majority support.
Sources said Vijay is expected to meet Tamil Nadu Governor R. V. Arlekar on Friday evening to stake claim to form the government. The meeting is likely to take place around 6 pm.
In its electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, TVK won 108 out of the 234 seats, dealing a major blow to the 62-year political dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
However, Governor Arlekar had reportedly made it clear that the party would not be invited to form the government without proving a clear majority. Even after two rounds of discussions on Wednesday and Thursday, the Governor is learnt to have maintained his stand that letters of support from at least 118 MLAs must be submitted in the 234-member Assembly.
Apart from Vijay, TVK had the backing of 107 MLAs. Vijay had contested from Tiruchy (East) and Perambur constituencies and won both seats, meaning he would have to resign from one seat before taking oath. This increased the need for additional support.
Amid the political developments, five MLAs from the Congress party, which reportedly moved away from the DMK-led alliance, extended support to Vijay. Vijay also held discussions with leaders of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India.
The VCK, CPI(M) and CPI had so far been allies of the DMK. At the same time, political discussions intensified in the state over speculation that the DMK could even explore a post-poll understanding with its long-time rival AIADMK to prevent an alternative government from taking shape.
Reports had been circulating since Friday afternoon that the VCK and Left parties were likely to support Vijay. Sources later said that the VCK, CPI(M) and CPI agreed to extend the support of two MLAs each, helping TVK cross the required majority mark.
All eyes are now on the Governor’s next move and the official announcement regarding the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu.
