In Rajgarh, district Alwar in Rajasthan, the authorities have demolished a 300-yeard-old Hindu temple, inviting criticism and condemnation from locals.

As per reports, a JCB was brought in to destroy the temple’s roof and pillars. Idols of the temple have been damaged in the demolition drive. A report in India TV stated that the Shivalingam inside the temple was also uprooted by using drills.

As per the report, a video by local MLA Jauhari Lal Meena has gone viral on social media where he is heard saying a Congress municipality could have prevented the demolition drive. He reportedly stated that if the 34 councilors were brought near him, he could have stopped the demolition drive.

Congress-led Rajasthan Govt: over 150 houses and shops, including old temples, have been demolished so far to ‘widen road’ citing masterplan, a Patrika report stated

On the other hand, the BJP in the state is blaming the Gehlot government for the demolition of the temple that was reportedly 300-year-old.

In a tweet, the BJP has stated that the temple demolition in Alwar’s Rajgarh was the Gehlot government’s ‘revenge’ for the demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri.

Notably, the Rajgarh authorities had demolished the houses of over 85 Hindu families in a ‘road-widening’ drive citing a city masterplan.

A report in Dainik Bhaskar had mentioned that the said road, the ‘station road’ in Rajgarh has a ‘masterplan-approved’ width of 60 feet only for a stretch of 120 meters or so, from Nandlal Shah garden to Saini dharmshala. The rest of the road is narrower than 50 feet.

Reports mentioned that many shops, that had been allotted by the government itself decades ago, had been demolished without giving notice to the tenants.

The local authorities and local MLA have all refused to comment on the issue. Earlier this week, CM Gehlot had announced that the government cannot demolish houses and shops without notice.

Locals whose houses and shops have been demolished have stated that they had the valid documents of their properties.

Despite this, the municipality has demolished its buildings. In a drive that started on 17 April, over 150 houses and shops, including old temples have been demolished so far, a Patrika report stated.

Congress-led Rajasthan Govt: Locals whose houses and shops were demolished stated that they had the valid documents of their properties, still municipality demolished their buildings

BJP's claim is a lie

Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas called the BJP's claim a lie. He alleged that the chairman of Rajgarh Urban Bodies Board, who is a BJP member, proposed to bring down the temples and houses.

Khachariyawas alleged that at the chairman's behest, the temple was demolished, while a Congress MLA, kept on opposing [the decision of demolition].

Demolition of Temples

On April 6, the municipality issued notices to 86 people over the removal of encroachments.

When the locals approached Rajgarh MLA Johri Lal Meena, he said the people formed a BJP board and therefore the demolition was happening.

Eventually, the authorities allegedly demolished three temples in Alwar's Rajgarh, despite locals protesting against it. The idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, and other deities installed at these temples were ruined.

During the proceedings, officials went near the idols while wearing shoes and used a cutter machine to remove the idols.

Congress-led Rajasthan Govt: Over 150 houses and shops, including old temples, have been demolished so far leaving hundreds of families homeless

Following the incident, Hindu organisations filed a written complaint with police accusing Rajgarh MLA Johri Lal Meena, SDM Keshav Kumar Meena, and Municipal EO Banwari Lal Meena of inciting riots. However, an FIR has not been registered yet.

The members of the organisations reached the police station in Rajgarh to protest and demand that an FIR be registered in connection with the incident.

In view of the growing controversy, Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam said he will meet locals on Friday. He said that the whole matter would be discussed with other police officers.

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