'Can’t Compromise Passenger’s Safety': DRM After Hindu Groups Protest Over Agra Chamunda Devi Temple Encroachment

The notice was issued on April 20 asking the temple to shift from the railway land. A similar notice was issued to a mosque and Dargah at the Agra Cantt railway station. 

New Delhi: A day after threatening mass suicide, Hindu groups are protesting outside the Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office in Agra as the Railways issued notice to remove a 250-year-old Chamunda Devi temple at the Rajmandir railway station from the Railway premises. 

In response to the protest, DRM, Agra Division Anand Swarup told news agency ANI, “Safety concern over a portion of the temple. We can't compromise passengers' safety. We want a respectable solution keeping safety & religious sentiments in mind. We will hold talks with different stakeholders & I hope we will get a good solution.”

According to a report by news agency PTI, the notice was issued on April 20 asking the temple to shift from the railway land. A similar notice was issued to a mosque and Dargah at the Agra Cantt railway station. 

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 told PTI.

“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 added.

As per the notice issued to the temple, it is the biggest hurdle in increasing the speed of the trains. 

“The biggest hurdle is regarding the speed of the trains. He informed that Rs 6 crore is being spent on improving the speed of trains on the Agra-Delhi route. The speed of the train is reduced to 30 km per hour due to the temple. Rajamandi station has to be expanded to increase the speed of trains. Encroachment is a barrier to this technically necessary expansion,” the notice reads according to news agency ANI.  

It further adds, “If there is any obstacle in the implementation of this decision, then in view of the safety of the passengers, the railway administration will be forced to consider closing the Raja Mandi station for passenger use.”

Angered by the notice, Govind Parashar, national president of  Rashtriya Hindu Parishad Bharat said that they will not allow the temple to shift. He argued that it was not even touched during the British era which can be verified by the “curve” in the tracks. 

“There should be an alternate solution for this issue. We will immolate ourselves at the station premises if the Indian Railways does not withdraw its decision,” Parashar said on Thursday. 

The head priest that works at the temple claimed that he has served there since childhood and his forefathers also served there. “Many devotees come here to pray. Even passengers pray when they embark on their journey,” he said.

Surendra Bhagore, former secretary of the Hindu Jagran Manch, said it was a matter of “Hindu sentiments” PTI reported. 

“This temple is older than the railway station so how it can be removed in the name 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.