Temples razing: Is RSS embarrassing or saving Raje?

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who just got a reprieve from Lalit Modi controversy has another one to face, this time created by sister organisations Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The hardliner Hindu groups have called for a two hour "chakka jam" in Jaipur on July 9, picking an old issue of razing and relocation of temples.

So are they reacting now because of their belief that recent Raje-Modi controversy was a fallout of angry deities whose temples were removed without following proper Hindu rituals. And will it help distracting people's attention from Raje-Modi issue to a religious one?

Raje too is keen to look into the issue to ensure that proper prayers are held to make up for rituals that were not done in a hurry to remove temples. Some rituals were indeed performed before removing temples. Moreover, the temples were removed after lot of publicity to the issue was done in local media.

On July 4, RSS summoned three ministers, five MLAs, one MP and state BJP and Jaipur city presidents and asked them why they were silent when temples were being removed. Under pressure, chief minister office had sought a report from officials even as RSS is sending its report to its headquarters at Nagpur.

The issue of removal of three dozen temples, that were considered encroachments and illegal around a proposed ring road project, strictly followed Supreme Court orders in this regard and revived after a long time.

However, it is relocation of half a dozen small but old roadside temples, that were on proposed metro route in walled city that has been questioned for the manner in which it was done. Officials removed the temples and relocated these adjacent to each other building small structures and putting shutters on five of these.

Local RSS which has rarely enjoyed a cosy relation with Raje, has found the right time to corner her besides ensuring that its core agenda that is meant to keep Hindu votes on its side is not forgotten.

Congress MLAs who have in the past criticised razing of temples now say that it is RSS ploy to take lead on the issue after it slept for long.