West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The significant move aimed at restoring religious harmony and preserving cultural heritage, West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, announced that the reconstruction of nine Hindu temples damaged during recent communal riots in Murshidabad district will commence on April 30, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Adhikari emphasized the symbolic importance of initiating the restoration on Akshaya Tritiya, a day traditionally associated with prosperity and new beginnings. He stated that all necessary purification rituals would be performed to sanctify the temples before reconstruction begins. "At present, these temples bear the marks of heinous, condemnable, and barbaric assaults by jihadis," Adhikari remarked, highlighting the severity of the attacks that led to the desecration of these sacred sites.

The BJP leader made it clear that the restoration efforts would be funded entirely by the Hindu community, rejecting any financial assistance from the state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "No financial assistance will be accepted from the Hindu-opposing Mamata Banerjee government," he asserted, underscoring a commitment to community-driven rebuilding efforts.

The communal violence that erupted in Murshidabad earlier this month, amid protests over the Waqf law, resulted in the deaths of three individuals and widespread property damage. Several houses and shops were ransacked, forcing many residents to seek refuge in relief camps in neighboring Malda district.

Union Minister and state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also announced plans to visit the affected temples in Murshidabad to oversee the situation and extend support. The BJP's leadership aims to bolster morale among the Hindu residents, many of whom were displaced or affected during the violence.

Adhikari's announcement carries political undertones, as the BJP seeks to consolidate Hindu support in West Bengal, a state where religious polarization has increasingly become a central issue in political discourse. His remarks criticizing the Mamata Banerjee-led government reflect ongoing tensions between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), especially on matters related to law and order and the protection of religious minorities.

Preparations for the rebuilding ceremonies are underway, with community leaders coordinating logistics for the ritual purification and subsequent construction activities. The move to restore the temples on Akshaya Tritiya is seen not only as a religious act but also as a symbolic assertion of the community's resilience and faith in the face of adversity.

As the date approaches, the eyes of both political observers and the wider public remain fixed on Murshidabad, where the restoration effort could set the tone for future communal relations and political narratives in the state.