Hisar Sati temple courts controversy

Deepender Deswal/TNS Hisar, September 8 The decision of a local religious trust to replace the existing Rani Sati Dadi temple in Sector 16-17 with a grand temple has evoked sharp reaction from women and social activists of the area. Two BJP ministers from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh had laid the foundation stone of the proposed temple, to come up within two years at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore, in the presence of members of the Sati Dadi Mangaliwala Trust on Thursday.

BJP ministers from MP and Chhattisgarh lay the foundation stone of the Sati temple in Hisar. A Tribune photograph

Women and social organisations have opposed the move alleging that it will glorify a social evil that had been banned by enacting an anti-Sati legislation many years ago. They will now submit a memorandum to the Hisar Deputy Commissioner on Monday seeking action against the ministers who participated in the function and a ban on construction of the temple. Hisar SDM JK Abhir said the BJP ministers had visited the town as guests to attend a private function. But he admitted that he was aware of the purpose of their visit and that the construction of a Sati temple was against the law. The administration has not received any complai nt so far but we will take action if someone files one, he said. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Uma Shakar Gupta and Chhattisgarh Health Minister Amar Agrawal laid the foundation stone of the temple after the trust announced that it would replace the existing Sati temple with a grand structure. The trust belongs to the Mangaliwala family of Hisar that owns businesses in India and abroad. The trust managers told mediapersons during the function that a grand temple on

the lines of Akshardham Temple in Delhi would be constructed by demolishing the existing temple. Local activists have taken exception to the proposed temple with All-India Democratic Women Association vice-president Jagmati Sangwan maintaining that it was in violation of the anti-Sati law. How can we encourage the Sati ritual in modern times? The name of the temple must be amended according to the law of land. Association state president Shakuntala Jakhar said several organisations had condemned the proposed temple at a meeting on Saturday and decided to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Monday. We seek to thwart the construction of the temple and also demand legal action against the ministers who laid the foundation stone of the temple which seeks to glorify a banned tradition, he said. Pyare Lal, a trust member, said they had not been approached by anyone raising objections to the construction of a bigger temple. It is an old temple and would be replaced by a new Sati temple. Nobody has come to us with an objection so far, he said. None of the two BJP ministers was available for comments. 'NO SATI RITUAL AT TEMPLE SITE' The caretaker of a dharamshala run by the trust claimed a small temple was built around 150 years ago after an elderly woman from Mangali village, who had settled down at the site after her husband's death, passed away. Religious rituals had been performed regularly at the temple ever since, he said. Ten other temples of different deities also existed in the 2.5-acre complex. He denied any Sati ritual (burning of woman with her husband's body) at the temple site. CONTENTIOUS MOVE A local religious trust recently decided to replace the existing Rani Sati Dadi temple in Sector 16-17 with a grand temple Two BJP ministers from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh laid the foundation stone of the proposed temple on Thursday Women and social activists have opposed the move saying it will glorify a social evil practice of Sati - banned under the law They will meet the Hisar DC on Monday seeking action against the two ministers and a ban on temples construction

To, The Deputy Commissioner, Hissar. Subject: Complaint against anti social and glorify a social evil.
Sir,

On the basis of the Tribune reporting, I am lodging complaint against the glorify a social evil, it should be stopped at once and strict legal action may kindly be taken against the Organisers along with promoter of the anti social act glorify a social evil, which was banned many years ago. Naresh Kadyan, Abhishek Kadyan, Miss Sukanya Kadyan, C-38, Rose Apartment, sector-14, Prashant Vihar, Rohini, Delhi 110085.