Port Blair, May 11: Mr. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti (Andaman and Nicobar Unit), has submitted a formal representation to the Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, raising strong objection to a proposed commercial construction project on a historically recognized Hindu burial ground near the seashore.
In his letter, Mr. Lall conveyed the deep anguish of the local Hindu community and members of other religious communities over what he described as an “assault on sacred ground.” The site in question, he stated, has served for generations as a final resting place for the departed and holds immense religious and cultural importance.
Mr. Lall cited constitutional and legal grounds for his objection, including Article 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution, which safeguard the right to religious freedom, and Section 34 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, which protects Hindu religious sites from repurposing. He also referred to precedents set by the Madras High Court, which has barred the diversion of religious lands for commercial purposes.
The Hindu Rashtra Shakti leader further alleged that the construction violates multiple regulatory norms. “The site falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone and requires clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, which has not been obtained,” he claimed. He added that no public consultation was held, allegedly violating Section 47 of the Port Blair Municipal Act.
“Local families whose ancestors are buried here were not consulted or even informed. Their sentiments have been disregarded,” Mr. Lall said, calling the construction an “ecological and spiritual transgression.”
The letter outlines the following key demands:
1. Immediate halting of the construction activities.
2. Official notification declaring the site a protected burial ground.
3. An independent probe into how such a project received administrative clearance.
4. A public hearing involving representatives of all religious communities within 30 days.
Mr. Lall warned that if no appropriate action is taken within 45 days, the organization would stage peaceful protests at the Sri Vijayapuram Municipal Council. He also stated their intention to approach national bodies like the National Commission for Minorities and the National Human Rights Commission.
Urging the administration to intervene swiftly, Mr. Lall stated, “This is not just a legal issue; it is a matter of spiritual and cultural sanctity. Any attempt to commercialize sacred ground risks disturbing communal harmony and undermining constitutional values.”
