MAPUSA
The controversy surrounding the relocation of the demolished Khapreshwar temple has taken a political turn, with internal divisions emerging within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress stepping in to take a position.
What ideally should have been a community-driven decision has now become a matter of political maneuvering, raising questions about the role of religious institutions in electoral politics.
Fractured BJP stance
Two factions within the BJP are reportedly at odds over the relocation of the temple.
One group, led by temple committee president, Karthik Kudnekar, insists that the temple must be rebuilt at its original location. Kudnekar, who also serves as a Zilla Panchayat member and is a known BJP karyakarta, has cited religious sentiment and tradition as the primary reasons for resisting relocation.
His position was further strengthened after he received special Prasad of Lord Ravalnath at Mulgao-Bicholim, a symbolic endorsement of his stance.
On the other hand, another BJP-aligned group of devotees has proposed a different site close to the original location. This group has reportedly received Prasad from a temple in Socorro, lending religious legitimacy to their preference for an alternate location.
The divergence of views within the ruling party has exposed internal rifts, complicating efforts to reach a consensus.
Cong steps in
The issue took a more political turn on Sunday when the Opposition Congress publicly weighed in.
Senior Congress leaders, including AICC in-charge for Goa Manikrao Thakare and GPCC President Amit Patkar, visited the original temple site and strongly advocated for reconstruction at the same location.
Patkar argued that Congress had refrained from politicising the issue initially but was compelled to take a stand after the BJP-led government demolished the temple without adequate consultation.
He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, pointing out that while the BJP orchestrated grand celebrations for the inauguration of the Ram temple, it failed to protect the Khapreshwar temple.
Religious V/s political narratives
Amidst the political sparring, social worker Shankar Phadte lamented that the issue, at its core, was not political but had been co-opted by party interests.
“BJP supporters see this as a BJP-led demolition rather than a community concern. Their alignment with affiliated organisations like Bajrang Dal, RSS and VHP has turned it into a political battle,” Phadte observed.
Temple committee president Karthik Kudnekar echoed concerns over the government’s handling of the situation, asserting that his committee alone had the right to make decisions about the temple.
He accused the BJP government of sidelining key stakeholders and failing to seek consensus.
“We have not politicized this issue. The government is acting unilaterally,” Kudnekar stated, adding that his attempts to seek support from BJP leaders had been met with silence.
BJP's calculated silence
Amid the growing controversy, BJP leaders have largely remained tight-lipped.
Efforts by The Goan to obtain comments from BJP functionaries were met with refusals or a reluctance to go on record.
This calculated silence suggests an internal dilemma within the party, as it struggles to navigate the competing demands of its own supporters.
The Khapreshwar temple relocation issue has evolved beyond a simple decision about a site; it has become a microcosm of the larger intersection of religion and politics in India.
With the BJP internally divided and the Congress seizing the opportunity to challenge the ruling party’s commitment to Hindu interests, the controversy is unlikely to subside soon.
Whether a resolution is found through community consensus or political intervention remains to be seen, but for now, the dispute serves as yet another example of how religious matters are increasingly being drawn into the sphere of electoral politics.
