On Saturday, January 27, authorities tore down around 21 houses and 153 huts behind Gujarat’s Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath District. The demolition drive was conducted in response to the directions issued by the state’s revenue department. The 7.4 acres of land, which belongs to the Shree Somnath Trust and the State government, was cleared of all illegal residential settlements.
Authorities took necessary measures by providing tractors and laborers to help encroachers relocate their household items and belongings. They were also assisted with provisions for food.
The razing of 21 constructions on 700 square meters of land and almost 153 constructions on 3 hectares of land was done in the presence of five ‘mamlatdars’ (head of revenue administration) and100 revenue officials. Additionally, two SRP (State Reserve Police) companies, 500 police personnel, firefighters, RAF (Rapid Action Force), and QRT (Quick Response Team) were also deployed.
Administrators had carried out a meeting with the representatives of the residents prior to the demolition on January 25.
“We are working to remove unauthorised residential encroachment as per the circular issued by the revenue department and secure it with fencing. Before the exercise, we had called for a meeting with the representatives of the encroachers on January 25 to explain to them the entire process,” said collector Harji Vadhvaniya.
Somnath Temple and Ayodhya Connection
Somnath Temple is located 400 km southwest of Ahmedabad at Veraval in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The first of the twelve jyotirlingas, it is one of the most sacred pilgrim sites for Hindus in India.
The Somnath temple too had faced a similar fate as the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. After repeated assaults and demolitions by Mughals it was finally reconstructed and consecrated in 1951.
The socio-political significance of the temple is thus, noteworthy, for this was the very site where Bharatiya Janata Party co-founder L.K. Advani started the Rath Yatra in 1990 in support of a Ram Temple in Ayodha. “It is believed, and confirmed by archaeological evidence, that there was a pre-existing temple at Ayodhya. It is but natural that the yatra begins from here, Somnath,” Advani had said in his speech ahead of the 1990 yatra.
The Advani-led yatra helped generate massive political leverage for the party with BJP bagging 20 Lok Sabha seats in 1991.
