After Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his disappointment at a temple dedicated to him in Gujarat's Rajkot district, the temple authorities have reportedly cancelled its inauguration that was scheduled for 16 February.
Though admirers in and around Rajkot are excited about the temple and visiting it, Modi is unhappy, asking them to utilise their time and energy for his "Clean India Mission" instead.
"Have seen the news about a Temple being built in my name. I was appalled. This is shocking & against India's great traditions," Modi tweeted.
"Building such Temples is not what our culture teaches us. Personally, it made me very sad. Would urge those doing it not to do it," read a second tweet by him.
Modi has said that instead of wasting resources to construct a temple for him, his supportera and admirers should channelise them for the government's "Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan".
If you have time & resources, please devote the same towards fulfilling our dream of a Clean India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2015
Modi's supporters have installed his bust in the sanctum of the temple, which is set to be inaugurated on 16 February. The construction of the temple began two years ago with the support of 350 members of Om Yuva Group (OYG).
"Our members, earning from five thousand to fifteen thousand rupees a month, contributed," PTI quoted OYG leader Jayesh Patel as saying.
"It is a first of its kind in Gujarat, temple of a living person. Members of our organisation have been worshipping Modi as God from the time he contested his first Assembly election from Rajkot and became the Chief Minister of Gujarat," Patel added.
He said the temple has been built as a tribute to Modi's work as Gujarat's CM and also for what he is doing as the head of the nation. "We are very much impressed by the work he did as the Chief Minister and the work he is doing now as the Prime Minister, so we decided to construct a temple for him," Patel said.
Though they initially decided to put a photo of Modi inside the temple, they later changed their plans and installed his idol. Built on a 350 sq yard plot of land that was provided by Kothariya Gram Panchayant for religious construction 10 years ago, the temple costs ₹7 lakh and Modi's idol alone costs ₹1.7 lakh.
