Temple of discord in Sher Shah’s tomb
By K K Singh and Prabudh Biswas
The Times of India News Service
PATNA: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has expressed concern
over the construction of a temple in the premises of Sher Shah Suri’s
tomb here. Attempts to stop the encroachment have met with official
indifference, says ASI.
In a letter to the chief secretary V S Dubey, the superintending
archaeologist of the Patna unit of ASI, Muhammed K K, notes: ``It is
distressing to inform you that on October 3 the local police refused to
accept an FIR against the new construction. The ASI representative at
Sasaram had approached the local police to lodge an FIR against the
resumption of the construction of temple. He has also informed the
district magistrate, Rohtas.‘’
Alleging the `connivance of the local police’, the officials state the
illegal construction of the temple had begun earlier, but was stopped
when the matter was brought to the notice of the administration, some
months ago. However, the construction work has resumed, despite fresh
complaints to the local administration.
ASI says that despite the effort of their representative in Sasaram, no
action has been taken to stop the ongoing illegal construction and now
the centring work for casting the RCC roof of the temple is in progress.
``The refusal of the police to register the case makes it clear that
encroaching upon government land and the construction of the illegal
temple is with the active connivance of the police,‘’ the letter says.
Utterly disappointed with the negative approach and attitude of the police,'' the ASI has sought government intervention in the matter so that the cultural heritage of not only Bihar, but the whole country is
saved from being defaced by anti-social elements working under the garb
of religious groups with ulterior motives.‘’ Muhammed has urged the
chief secretary to instruct the district administration of Rohtas to
stop the `illegal construction’ of the temple within the tomb premises
and dismantle the structure which has already come up. The government
should also take stern action ``against anti-social elements, who
indulge in such construction and government officials and staff, who
overtly and covertly support it,‘’ the letter urges.
According to ASI, the tomb is a national monument protected by the
government through gazette notification. As per the provision of
Archaelogical Monuments and Ancient Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and
Rules 1959, no construction is permissible within protected limits of a
national monument.
Have the ghosts of Ayodhya been laid to rest?
Previous Article
Rao pleads for leniency, sentence today
Vajpayee sits with some assistance
Chandrika likely to return to power
SC seeks minutes of meeting on Veerappan demands
Temple of discord in Sher Shah’s tomb
T