Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai Patel with Minister for State for Home Harsh Sanghav.
In the Gujarat Assembly session on Wednesday, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi revealed that the Bhupendra Patel-led government had taken down 108 Mazars as part of a crackdown on encroachments perceived as orchestrated schemes. Sanghavi emphasized the government’s dedication to safeguarding temples from any ill intentions.
Referring to an earlier address by a BJP MLA from Ellisbridge, Sanghavi highlighted, “Today, Amitbhai mentioned… He noted the removal of a derasar in Jamalpur. Presently, Dada’s (Bhupendra Patel’s) bulldozer is actively patrolling every corner of the state to thwart any conspiracies aimed at temple or devsthan removal. The direction of its path remains unpredictable.”
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Sanghavi addressed the Assembly while advocating for budgetary allocations for the home department. He raised concerns about the sudden appearance of numerous mazars within the Uparkot Fort premises in Junagadh, recently redeveloped. “The sudden construction of these mazars in Uparkot caught us off guard. How could they have been built so swiftly?” Sanghavi questioned.
He disclosed, “A total of 108 mazars have been demolished across the state, reclaiming state properties. Encroachments around Somnath have been cleared. Dada’s bulldozer can traverse through narrow 20-ft streets and broad 80-m roads.”
Sanghavi also addressed criticism regarding the extension of Navratri celebrations into late-night hours. He defended the decision, citing the significance of cultural practices to Gujarat’s identity. “Navratri was permitted to continue throughout the night for the people of Gujarat to worship the goddess and engage in raas. Despite concerns from the Supreme Court and Gujarat High Court, we ensured that the sound levels were reduced,” he stated.
He further added, “Extending Navratri into late-night hours also brought Diwali celebrations to many households. To gauge the impact, one must ask the opinion of the underprivileged, vendors, and small restaurant owners.”
Sanghavi recalled a statement he made, questioning whether the people of Gujarat would have to go to Pakistan to perform garba if they were restricted from doing so in the state. “The very next day, a political party filed a PIL in the High Court, opposing late-night garba performances. We faced opposition to the idea of people enjoying garba late into the night,” he remarked.
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