BJP shuts down “Modi temple” in Pune, but NCP’s “protest prayers” still happen

BJP workers on Wednesday removed a statue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a “temple” dedicated to the PM in Aundh, Pune

PUNE Following severe criticism, BJP workers late on Wednesday removed a statue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a “temple” dedicated to the PM in Aundh. The temple, put together and started by a BJP party worker, was closed to avoid any further embarrassment. On Thursday, members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gathered outside the closed “Modi shrine”, seeking blessings from Modi to “bring down inflation and fuel prices”. The sarcasm of the NCP “protest” was more than evident.

NCP party workers stage a “prayer protest” outside a temple which housed the bust of PM Narendra Modi, now closed, in Pune. Following severe criticism, BJP workers late on Wednesday removed the statue. (HT)

Mayur Munde, a BJP worker from Aundh, had built the small temple inside his residential premises, saying it was his tribute to the prime minister who “built Ram temple at Ayodhya”, among other things. He installed Modi’s bust inside the temple.

Criticism for deification of an individual soon followed.

“After becoming PM, Modi has done a lot of developmental work and dealt with issues such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, Ram Mandir temple and triple talaq successfully,” Munde, who is a real estate agent, had said while defending the act.

However, when NCP announced a mock agitation in front of temple, Modi’s bust was removed and the temple covered with cloth.

NCP leaders, including party city unit president Prashant Jagtap, Pradeep Deshmukh and corporator Baburao Chandere, however, still gathered outside the temple to pray.

“One can definitely have loyalty to any leader, but such deification of an individual, no matter who he is, will not be tolerated by a city like Pune,” said Prashant Jagtap