MUMBAI: Central Railway‘s decision to issue demolition notices to five temples “encroaching” on its premises outside Dadar station has sparked a political controversy, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticising the BJP and CR for the move.
According to a CR source, the five five structures – two temples dedicated to Shiva, and one each to Mahalaxmi, Dattatreya, and Hanuman – were flagged in a 2021 Comptroller and Auditor General report. A recent inspection by a parliamentary committee also raised concerns about these unauthorised constructions, prompting CR’s Byculla assistant divisional engineer to issue the notices to the Hanuman Temple Trust on Dec 4.
“During an inspection by railway staff, it was found that you have encroached and constructed unauthorised temples on railway land. These structures are affecting the easy movement of commuters and vehicles and obstructing construction work for railway development. The ministry of railways assigned the development of Dadar station to the Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Ltd. You are hereby directed to remove the unauthorised temples and hand over…the land to the railway administration within seven days of receiving this notice. Failure to comply will result in the removal of the structures by the railway administration at your cost,” stated the notices. Sena (UBT) shared a copy of the notices with TOI.
Thackeray specifically condemned the notice issued to the 80-year-old Hanuman temple built by coolies outside Dadar station. Accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, Thackeray said: “BJP seeks votes in the name of Hindutva, but its central govt-controlled railways issued a ‘fatwa’ to demolish the 80-year-old temple.”
Thackeray urged the BJP-led govts at Centre and state to intervene and stop the demolition. “I want to see what chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will do about this fatwa issued to demolish a temple that holds historical and cultural significance,” he said.
