JABALPUR: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is threatened with mutiny from the most unlikely quarter - the holy brigade from home turf. The charge – show of complete indifference and disregard for heavenly abodes.

Miffed at the CM’s lukewarm response to anti-encroachment drive, which has led to demolition of more than 500 temples in Jabalpur, a powerful lobby of seers led by vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti (ABSS) and Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shymdas Maharaj has announced launch of a state-wide “math mandir bachao abhiyan” on April 19, the Ramnavami day. The objective is to spite Chouhan by exposing before the public the irreligious face of the BJP rule.

The ABSS will hold serial janjagran meetings all over the state and court arrest from May 9, if the government refuses to come to the rescue of displaced deities, Swami told TOI on Monday. The warning could mean a big embarrassment to Chouhan, who has cleverly, though unobtrusively, pushed a slew of populist schemes like free/subsidized pilgrimage, ban on cow slaughter , introduction of surya namaskar and Bhagwat Gita to the school curriculum to woo Hindus. And even though senior BJP leaders scoff at the ultimatum and smell a political conspiracy behind the sudden upsurge, the ABSS resolutely gears up for the showdown.

Talking to TOI, the Swami recounted his meeting with Chouhan in November where he was assured that state government would, during winter session, table a bill to protect temples. “The session is long since over and the CM has reneged on his promise, which only goes to show he is no more interested. So, now it is up to the seers to take the lead,” he said.

For the record , a division bench of MP high court comprising then Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice RK Gupta had on December 5, 2005, passed an order “to remove all religious structures constructed on public land, including roads”. Ever since a total number of 561 places of worship have been razed to the ground in Jabalpur and more than 500 of the list happen to be temples. With high court assiduously monitoring the drive, the administration, which demolished 70 temples in 2012 alone, has no option but to continue the operations albeit low key, even if means ruffling the hard core Hindutva votaries occasionally.

However, with elections round the corner the issue, on the simmer so far, threatens to turn explosive. Slamming the CM for turning a blind eye to Hindu sentiments, Swami asked “why doesn’t he order removal of the mosque and maqbara near his official residence to prove his secular credentials?” Swami Shyamdas, who, as the head of Narsinghpeeth, wields considerable influence, claimed that animal husbandry minister Ajay Vishnoi had, at his behest, taken up the matter with the CM, and a committee was set up to resolve the issue last year, but nothing has moved so far.

