CHANDIGARH: Haryana Congress president Rao Narendra Singh on Monday accused the BJP government of “double standards” on religion, alleging that bulldozers were being used against centres of faith even as the party sought votes in the name of temples.Reacting to the demolition of the Baba Balaknath temple, gaushala, samadhi site and other religious structures at Adampur Jharsha village in Gurugram’s Sector 50, Rao demanded Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s immediate intervention and an impartial probe.Rao alleged that the religious complex had been a centre of worship and cow service for decades and that the land had been given by the village panchayat for the Baba Balaknath Ashram. He said the administration, backed by heavy police deployment, carried out the demolition over nearly 16 hours, removing idols and shifting around 35 cows from the gaushala. He noted that the Shiva temple at the site was left intact.“The government says notices were issued as the land was government property. But why was the issue not resolved through dialogue and with due respect for religious sentiments?” Rao asked.He also demanded an inquiry into villagers’ allegations that the action could benefit builders or the land mafia.Targeting the BJP nationally, Rao cited allegations relating to religious projects at Ayodhya, Kedarnath and Mahakal, claiming the government had failed to act decisively on such issues.Rao said Congress did not use religion as a political weapon and respected all faiths. He demanded reconstruction of the Baba Balaknath temple complex and action against officials found responsible.“On one hand BJP seeks votes in the name of temples; on the other, bulldozers are being used on centres of faith,” he said.
