Bharatiya Janata Party Madurai Urban District unit has demanded the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials to stop collecting money for quick darshan or special darshan in temples and allow all devotees to have darshan in a free and fair manner.
According to a release, party district president Sasiraman, who presided over the district-level functionaries meeting, said that Madurai, which was among the most favoured destinations for devotees, should attract more people, and collection of money for such darshans in the temple should not hinder that. The city, also known as ‘temple city’, was filled with dust and garbage. The city corporation should take steps to keep the city clean and green.
There were complaints of gutter mixing in drinking water in areas such as Jaihindpuram, Palanganatham, Subramaniapuram and Sellur. The officials should rectify the fault on a war footing. If they failed to do so fast, the BJP would stage demonstrations to draw the attention of the officials and the government, he added.
Senior party functionaries S. Surendran and R. Srinivasan, in their address, said that the party should strengthen the rank and file to contest in all the 100 wards in the city.
It was also highlighted in the meeting that there were no proper roads on many stretches such as Simakkal and Yanaikkal stretches. Roads should be laid on these stretches. The party also resolved to identify TASMAC outlets near places of worship and educational institutions, and demand their immediate closure. More police personnel should be deployed in congested locations such as Kalavasal, Simakkal, Goripalayam and Thavittusandai to ease traffic during peak hours.
