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2013-12-18 India-Pakistan
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'Caretaker involved in razing of Mari Mata temple'
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 [Pak Daily Times] KARACHI: The four-feet long statue of the Hindu goddess Mari Mata was not wearing any jewels, as she was usually seen along with colourful clothes. The ladies dressed in colourful saris involved in bathing the statue were also nowhere to be seen. Sankha (a conch shell) or bells before the prayers were not being played nor the Prashad served or Aarti lighted up. Instead, the statue was lying outside idle.
Around a dozen Hindu families, who always prayed to their goddess to protect them from the evil, were living under the open sky, as they became homeless.
All this happened when two weeks ago, a powerful builder or what the victim families termed "land mafia" attacked and forced them to leave their homes, as according to local Hindus, a builder is willing to construct a shopping plaza on land of the century-old Mari Mata Temple in the Soldier Bazaar No 1.
"The builder with the help of the temple's caretaker, is going to grab the temple land to construct a shopping Plaza, for which they have not only demolished a portion of the historical temple and left the families living besides the temple homeless, but also kept the century-old statue of Mara Mata, out of the temple," said Kasi Lingum, Secretary-General, Pakistain Madrasi Hindu Panchayat, Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
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He said the statue was lying in open air, and the families were being forced to leave the place. "Despite tall claims, Sindh government, Ministry of Minority Affairs and other authorities concerned are not helping us," said Lingum. "Unfortunately, we have no other option than to protest and will soon announce our way forward," said Lingum, demanding to provide shelter to the families until issue resolved.
It is not the first time that a Hindu temple has been demolished in Karachi; another builder demolished just a year ago, a Mari Mata temple in Doli Khata.
According to the Pakistain Hindu Sabha there were about 400 Hindu temples in the downtown areas of the city including Saddar, Doli Khata, Soldier Bazaar, Jamshed Town, Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
and Keamari among others at the time of Partition, but now, the situation is otherwise. "Now only 60 temples remain, which too are on the verge of destruction. The rest have been either demolished or occupied by other groups," said Dr Gotam of Pakistain Hindu Sabha.
"We demand the ruling PPP leadership, and the Sindh government to help us reconstruct the temple, and help the families to get their homes back," said Lingum. 
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Posted by Fred 2013-12-18 00:00||
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