Mysore temple demolition spree [Karnataka, India]

[Reported as seen]

The temple, located in Nanjangud taluk, Mysore was on the Karnataka government, list of “illegal” religious structures across the state that were to be razed for encroachment. The drive was to comply with a 2009 Supreme Court order, whose implementation was being monitored by the Karnataka High Court, which had taken up a suo- motu petition two years ago. Deputy Commissioners of the districts had been instructed by the chief secretary to demolish at least one illegal religious structure in every taluka, every week.

One of the temples, Mahadevamma temple in Nanjangud was in the eve of Gowri-Ganesh puja, early in September.

Reportedly, around 2844 temples have been destroyed, relocated or regularized.

It has received a backlash from the opposition and the Hindutva groups, calling it as an “Act against the Hindu sentiments.”

With a legislative session underway, the Bommai government chose to bring in a new bill to tackle the ­situation. This week, it tabled the Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill 2021, which seeks to protect religious structures that had come up in public places so as to “not hurt the religious sentiments of the public”.