Agra: Right-Wing Activists Threaten 'Mass Suicide' After Railways Notice To Remove Station Temple

They have threatened to commit mass immolation by setting fire to the 250-year-old Chamunda Devi Temple, which is located on the grounds of the Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station.

New Delhi: Hindu right-wing activists threatened to commit mass suicide if Railways removed a shrine housed within Agra's Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station, PTI reported.

The activists have threatened to commit mass immolation if the 250-year-old Chamunda Devi Temple, located in the premises of the Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station, is removed.

The Railways had issued a notice on April 20 to the temple to shift from the station premises.

A similar notice was also sent to the caretakers of the Bhure Shah Baba Dargah and a mosque built on Agra Cantt Railway Station land.

The notices were sent to the temple, dargah, and mosque as a part of an encroachment drive in compliance with Supreme Court orders, PTI reported.

"We had issued a notice to the temple head on April 20 and asked its administration to present their documents by April 30," Public Relation Officer and Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) NCR Railway Prashasti Srivastav was quoted by PTI in its report.

"We have also issued a notice to a mosque and a dargah located on the railway land in the premises of the Agra Cantt Railway Station. And they have been given time to present their documents by May 13," she said.

The Rashtriya Hindu Parishad Bharat's national president, Govind Parashar, has stated that the British-era temple would not be moved from its existing location.

He stated that even the British left the temple unharmed throughout the construction of the railways, as shown by a "curve" in the track.

This problem should have a different solution. If the Indian Railways does not reverse its decision, we would commit suicide on the station grounds, according to Parashar.

"The head priest serving at Chamunda Devi Temple claimed that he has been serving at the temple since his childhood and his forefathers had also served at the same temple. Many devotees come here to pray. Even passengers pray when they embark on their journey," he said.

It was a question of Hindu sentiments, according to Surendra Bhagore, former secretary of the Hindu Jagran Manch.

He questioned how a temple that is older than the railway station could be demolished in the guise of illegal encroachment.

"We want action against the Divisional Railway Manager, Agra for this act. He has been asking for the removal of the temple," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)