Epaper
A Rajkot builder has dedicated a temple in Kotharia village to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who contested his first legislative assembly election from Rajkot.The temple has been a huge draw among Modi’s supporters and followers from the place and adjoining villages.
Ramesh Undhad, 56, alias Bhaiji, a builder who contested and lost the Rajkot Municipal Corporation election in 2000 on a BJP ticket, built a temple about four months ago for “Bhagwan Shri Namo“. He installed a 3-ft bust of Modi in the sanctum to show his admiration for the Gujarat strongman.
Undhad has even printed invitation cards announcing inauguration of the temple by union minister of state for agriculture Mohanbhai Kundariya, and state ministers Vijay Rupani and Govind Patel on February 15.
At the temple, a special prayer is offered twice every day by priest Shankarbhai Patel, who lives in a small house built on the 350 sq yard temple precincts. Prayers and puja are expected to be elaborate after the temple is inaugurated on Sunday.
MODI’S PRESENCE
Undhad said he had built a small structure in 2006 and placed a photograph of Modi alongside that of Bharat Mata.“The temple in its present form came up four months ago. For the past three months we have a priest who performs puja twice a day. Modi followers from Kotharia and nearby villages assemble twice a day for the puja. Things will be more elaborate after inauguration,“ said Undhad. The 3-ft bust of Modi that was originally built four years ago has undergone several modifications. Undhad, who spent `1.65 lakh in building the temple, said he had called in sculptors from Odisha to give the idol a life-like look. “We feel Modi’s presence here when we see the idol. I am sure you will feel the same,“ Undhad said.
AUM NAMO NARAYAN
“We chant Aum Namo Narayan, Om Narendra Modi, Namo Namo Har Har during prayers.On special days like Modiji’s birthday we organise a special lunch for about 300 young girls and distribute sweets,“ he said.
“Modiji is not a human being. He is God. He has super natural powers. There have been no riots in Gujarat after 2002.Communal tensions that were frequent earlier are now a thing of the past. There has been no drought in the state since he took over either,“ he said.
Undhad said he faced financial problems until 2005, but things have begun to look up since he built the temple. “Ever since the temple has been built, my fortune has also changed for the better,“ he said.
MINISTER NOT INVITED
Undhad believes that Modiji’s contribution to Gujarat and the country has been second only to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While he is excited about the formal inauguration of the temple on Sunday, Kundariya’s secretary told Mirror that the minister had neither received an invitation to the event nor given his consent yet.
When Mirror contacted Kundariya, he said, “Nobody has asked me to inaugurate the temple. People from Rajkot have a habit of writing my name on all invitation cards without consulting me. I have a tight schedule on February 14 and 15. Even if I get an invitation, I shall not be going.“
State transport minister Vijay Rupani said, “He (Undhad) is a party worker from Rajkot and had spoken to me about the programme. But I am busy and not in Rajkot on that day. So I will not be attending the function.“
Despite repeated attempts Mirror could not reach state minister Govind Patel for his comment.
Source: Bangalore Mirror
