The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Devotees protest move to acquire ISKCON land

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Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Devotees protest move to acquire ISKCON land

‘Hare Krishna-Hare Rama’ chants resonate in the air at the strike venue

Government plans to acquire 2,890 square yards of land
Over 2,000 devotees register their resentment over the proposal

- Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

In ecstasy: Devotees of Lord Krishna singing and dancing in front of Hyderabad Collectorate in protest against the government’s decision to acquire ISKCON temple land, in the city on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: For over five hours this busy street morphed into a divine street. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Chirag Ali Lane and streets abutting it resonated with the unceasing chants of ‘Hare Krishna-Hare Rama’.

No expletives were hurled. And no one tried to antagonise the police during this novel protest.

The protest was against the Government’s plan to acquire 2,890 square yards of Secunderabad International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple. Over 2,000 devotees converged here on Wednesday to register their resentment, over the proposal, by taking up Krishna chanting and dancing to its tunes.

Notification

Devotees, drawn from various walks of life, were miffed by a November 5 notification, which said that 2,890 sq. yards of the temple property would be acquired for Metro Rail project.

A human chain was formed and all the incoming and outgoing roads to Hyderabad Collector office were blocked. No one was allowed inside the Collector’s office.

Huge speakers blared out Krishna chanting, interspersed by fervent pleas to lay-off the property acquiring process.

Women devotees blocked the road and tried to assuage commuters, who were upset for not being allowed to attend their daily work in various offices located in this street.

Traffic towards this lane, Nampally station road and Abids had to be diverted.

Till 3 p.m., the stretch was completely closed, much to the dismay of commuters.

The devotees were also joined by BJP leaders and party workers in large numbers.

Talks

The ISKCON authorities insisted Collector Naveen Mittal hold talks with them and assurance them of positive action.

The Collector later on held discussions with heads of ISKCON and BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya.

“I have assured them to hold more discussions to strike an amicable solution to this issue. We are confident of solving this issue,” he told media persons after the talks.

Assurance

Vice-Chairman of ISKCON’s National Committee Satya Gopinath Das said that the Collector had assured them of taking positive action.

“If authorities continue to behave negatively, then we would further intensify the protests in future,” he said, before calling off the protest.

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