Thanks to BJP, locals and other Hindu organisations, the indefatigable Dravidian stock DMK government’s move to demolish Sri Ganga Bhavani Amman temple in Nochikuppam (a fisherfolk hamlet) along the loop road in Chennai near Marina beach has come to a halt.
Nearly 300 residents of Nochikuppam sat up the whole of Friday (June 10) night, raising slogans, urging the DMK government to stop the proposed demolition of the temple. They protested the whole night to ensure that the temple was not razed down. Along with the locals, BJP functionaries and state BJP fishermen wing leader Munuswamy took part in the protest.
Over six thousand traditional fishermen community members are devotees of the temple. Country boat fishermen do a prayer before setting out to sea for fishing. Locals said, “The temple existed for over 50 years.” It was damaged during the 2004 Tsunami. The locals kept the statue in an open area and continued their prayers for some years until the new temple was built at the same site.
Government officials said the temple, which is in TNUHDB (TN Urban Habitat Development Board), is hindering the free flow of traffic. Based on a complaint by Anjalai of the area, the court issued orders to demolish the temple in 2020. Armed with court orders, officials, including police and revenue officers, came with bulldozers to go on their demolition drive.
On knowing this, locals brought catamarans (country boats) and formed a wall of sorts on the road to keep the officials from demolishing the temple. They sat in front of the temple the whole night and raised slogans urging the DMK government to stop the proposed demolition.
Officials of TNUHDB, Police, and Revenue departments, who had gone to the fishing village to pull down the temple, agreed to wait for the result of the legal proceedings. TNUHDB official said, “They have impleaded themselves in the case filed by Anjalai, a resident of Nochikuppam, saying the temple was an encroachment. But since their petition was numbered, we agreed to wait and inform the Madras High Court of the developments.”
Meanwhile, the Madras High court, on 10th June, ordered the demolition of Varaji Piran mosque near Tiruchi Holy Cross College. The mosque was built on a water body while the holy cross college encroached upon the water body. The court ordered the encroached land to be freed within four weeks. The court issued this direction while hearing a petition by Andrews Gnanaraj. Will the Dravidian stock DMK government, which shows a keen interest in demolishing Hindu temples, obey the court orders? CM Stalin himself said the government is for the Christians, by the Christians in a function last year. Christian priests said it was their alms DMK that came to power. So in all probabilities, the court orders will remain only on papers.
