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Tiruvannamalai bandh today to protest ASI move

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUVANNAMALAI Nov. 5 . Members of the Arunachaleswara Temple Protection Committee led by R. Muthukumaraswamy, president, walked out of a meeting convened by the District Revenue Officer, Vallalar, here today in which the superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai circle, Narasimhan, explained to them the circumstances leading to the ASI declaring the temple a protected monument.

The committee also decided to call a bandh in Tiruvannamalai for tomorrow.

The members protested against the ASI decision, which they felt was ``improper.'' But before walking out, the committee presented to the official a memorandum containing their objections. Mr. Narasimhan told them that the ASI would not levy any entrance fee for visitors to the temple nor interfere with the daily poojas.

On behalf of the committee, it was stated that the temple was a ``living temple'' and not a monument, and therefore it was ``unconstitutional'' on the part of the ASI to take over the temple.

`No bid to take over'

PTI reports from New Delhi:

Dispelling fears that the Centre might take over the temple, the Tourism and Culture Minister, Jagmohan, said the ASI efforts to declare such sites as being of national importance were aimed at restoring the famous hill temple to its original glory.

``Such a great temple is being ravaged by illegal construction around it damaging the temple city also,'' he told reporters referring to the proposed stir by some people against the ASI decision.

The move would only enable the Centre to spend money on its repair, restoration and conservation, and fears that the temple was being taken away were a ``deliberate disinformation. The temple is not taken over by anyone.''

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