Uddhav Thackeray opposes relocation of Siddhivinayak temple

Mumbai, Sep 21 (UNI) Opposing any move to relocate Dadar's famous Siddhivinayak temple, Shiv Sena Executive president Uddhav Thackeray today sought to know whether the country could also be shifted if it was unsafe.

The Bombay High Court had observed that relocating the temple could be an option in view of apprehensions about a terror strike on the temple.

''If the Siddhivinayak temple is relocated, it will hurt the sentiments of people,'' Mr Thackeray said in a press release here.

He said the terrorists' threat would remain even if the temple was relocated.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Jai Narayan Patel and Amjed Ali Sayed had observed that the temple could be relocated if it faced threat from terrorists. The observation was made in response to a public interest litigation (PIL), filed by Vinod Desai and other residents from Prabahadevi where the temple is located.

The petitioners had objected to the wall built around the temple, by police, fearing an Akshardham-like strike. They had contended that the wall obstructed three roads in the locality and caused immense inconvenience to the residents and school-going children.

Mr Uddhav Thackeray, critieised the opposition to the security wall and said: ''It is only a handful of people who have opposed the construction of the wall.'' UNI