Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Sep 26: Hundreds of devotees staged a peaceful protest at Brahmavar on Saturday September 24, urging the district administration to save the Adhi Mastyambika Temple that being reconstructed at Indira Nagar in Varamballi gram panchayat.
 
The reconstruction of the ancient temple is underway with the contribution from 600 families in the area and devotees from across the nation. A few people lodged a complaint with the zilla panchayat, Varamballi gram panchayat and deputy commissioner, alleging that the building site is illegal and that the building encroaches upon a minor culvert. 

Local entrepreneur Pramod Madwaraj, addressing the protesters, said that the coastal residents are deeply religious and he sought the divine enlightenment on those who are bent on demolishing the construction.
 
Varamballi gram panchayat former president Birti Rajesh Shetty said that religious worship centers bring about social harmony and the proposed demolition will ignite communal violence.
 
Zilla panchayat former president Bhujanga Shetty, Mahalingeshwara Geleyara Balaga president Shekar Devadiga, Bajrang Dal local president Chittaranjan Hegde, members of zilla panchayat and rural development project, taluk panchayat members, gram panchayat members, and the public participated in the protest.
 
The protesters later submitted a memorandum to Guruprasad, acting Tahsildar of Brahmavar, to be forwarded to the deputy commissioner.