Central Railway Cancels Demolition Order for Historic Lord Hanuman Temple at Dadar Following Public Outcry
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Mumbai, Dec 14 (NationPress) Following a substantial political and public outcry, the Central Railway (CR) has opted to withdraw its order for the demolition of an allegedly unauthorized 80-year-old Lord Hanuman Temple situated outside the Dadar Railway Station, as stated by a prominent leader on Saturday.
Former Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha informed reporters that he, along with a team from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, engaged with CR officials and discussed the situation with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to find an amicable resolution, as the issue was on the verge of escalating significantly.
“Our initiatives have proven successful. Today, the Railway Minister has chosen to annul the demolition order concerning the temples. The community will now be able to worship there regularly. We also plan to conduct an aarti at the site shortly,” Lodha remarked.
On December 4, the CR had unexpectedly issued notices to the temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, Lord Dattatreya, and Goddess Mahalaxmi, citing their encroachment on CR property, an issue previously highlighted in a CAG Report four years ago, with additional concerns raised by a recent Parliamentary Committee.
This action initiated a significant political controversy, with Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, along with MPs Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi, criticizing the CR and the Bharatiya Janata Party, while Aditya Thackeray announced plans for a ‘maha-aarti’ at the temples on December 14.
The CR's notices to the authorities of the Hanuman Temple claimed that the structures were unauthorized, encroached upon railway land, and obstructed the quick movement of commuters and vehicles, alongside hindering railway redevelopment projects. The notice demanded that the temple officials dismantle it within seven days; otherwise, the CR would proceed with the demolition and charge the temple authorities for the incurred costs, despite seeing countless commuters daily bowing their heads in silent prayer before the deities.
Thackeray criticized the BJP, accusing them of hypocrisy, as they seek votes based on Hindutva while simultaneously allowing a minister-led railway ministry to issue a ‘fatwa’ for the destruction of temples.
Notably, the Dadar Station spans both the CR and Western Railway, along with the Dadar Terminus, ranking among the busiest in the state. The Centre has assigned a significant redevelopment project to the Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Ltd.
