Nationwide campaign for reconstruction of destroyed temples

Appeal to provide evidence over destroyed temples in Goa for fighting legal battle

At the national level, not only the Ram temple, Kashi, Mathura, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal and Bhojshala, but thousands of temples have been demolished by the Mughals and Portuguese. India became independent; however, the ancient religious places of Hindus remained in foreign slavery. Therefore, all the temple organisations, devotees, priests and devout Hindu organisations decided to launch a nationwide campaign for the reconstruction of the temples destroyed by the invaders. If the evidence is available regarding demolished temples in Goa, the legal fight will be initiated. This decision was taken by the advocates on the second day of the 10th ‘Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Rashtra Adhiveshan’ in Goa. In the press conference organised in Vidyadhiraj meeting hall of Shri Ramnath temple (Ponda, Goa), an appeal was also made to the people of Goa to make available to the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti the evidence available with them for this fight.

On the occasion, Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, Adv. Madan Mohan Yadav from Varanasi, Sanghchalak of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ organisation from Goa Mr. Subhash Welingkar, Secretary of Goa Mandir Mahasangh Mr. Jayesh Thali and National Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Mr. Ramesh Shinde were present on the dais.

Adv. Vishnu Jain said, “The following aspects will be the focus of our research in this campaign to rebuild the temples. It will study the mythological significance of the disputed site, the historical evidence of destruction, the history of the case, the evidence and the legal basis. If the research proves that the temples were demolished, we will start a court battle for their restoration. Many of the disputed sites are currently under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India Department, which is acting against Section 16 of the 1958 Act. As a true Hindu, we are taking an oath to re-establish the cultural tradition of India by rebuilding such temples”.

At this time, Mr. Subhash Welingkar Goa State Sanghchalak of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ organisation said, “More than 1000 temples were demolished during the Portuguese rule. Two of these temples have survived the onslaught of the church, one at Varenyapuri (Verna) and the other Shri Vijayadurga Devi. Despite the temple being declared a protected area by the State archaeology department, a conspiracy to usurp the temple’s land continues through the church. Hindu devotees will have to come together and fight against this attack”.