'Movement for Retrieving Periya Mariyamman Temple Land'

Alert Hindus' solidarity pays rich dividend: Work on flyover harming Hindu sentiments stalled

A unique Bandh that was total and without any untoward incidents was held on May 28, 2010 at Erode, the hometown of atheist leader E V Ramaswamy Naicker. The Bandh call was given by a struggle group 'Movement for Retrieving Periya Mariyamman Temple Land' comprising devotees of a Kali temple centrally located in the bustling commercial town.

The demands of the Movement include retrieval of more than 15 acres of temple land that Church of South India (CSI) possesses illegally. The land was snatched from Hindus and handed over by Britishers to London Mission. Adding to this, the Highways Department started work on a flyover running above the centuries old temple. The 'Movement for Retrieving Periya Mariyamman Temple' submitted a memorandum to the Mayor of Erode Municipal Corporation requesting to drop the proceedings initiated. Signatures of the Ward Councillors of the town were submitted along the Memorandum. 30 Ward Councillors of various parties – accounting for three-fourth of the Council strength - have signed the memorandum.

Based on this Memorandum, the Highways Department has stopped the work on a flyover running above the temple. The expert opinion is that instead of the Rs 19 crore flyover projects there, the government would do well to ask the CSI to vacate the temple land that would pave the way for an unfinished 80 feet road to be completed at the cost of a few lakhs to ease traffic snarl. It was on this sensible demand backed by the mighty unity of the devotees that the Councillors were prompted to sign the memo.

Source: http://rsschennai.blogspot.com/2010/07/vsk-chennai-sandesh.html