BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said he has dropped the idea of approaching court after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "assured" him that her government will not interfere into the religious
activities of the Tarakeswar Temple in Hooghly district.
"I was not on a political visit here but I was to meet Mamata Banerjee for a discussion on the (Tarakeswar Temple) issue. She has cleared it and given assurance that there will be nobody from the government of West Bengal interfering into religious activities of the Tarakeshwar temple or any temple in the state," the Rajya Sabha MP claimed.
The CM said only members of the temple trustee board will look after its religious activities, Swamy told reporters at the secretariat after his meeting with Banerjee.
A controversy had erupted in June, 2017, after Banerjee appointed state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim as the chairman of the Tarakeshwar Development Board (TDB), which was formed to look after the nearly 300-year-old temple.
Following the appointment, Swamy had warned of severe legal ramifications if the decision was not immediately reversed.
"I will not move court because she (Banerjee) made it very clear that the state government will be only looking after the beautification of the areas surrounding the temple.
"Banerjee was very cordial just like the old leader I knew, and she clearly said that her government is secular and will not interfere in the religious activities of the temple," he said.
The BJP leader, however, said there was no political discussion with the chief minister during today's meeting.
"There was some discussion on general terms but not on anything specific," he said.
Swamy also hailed Banerjee for her struggle against the Communists in West Bengal.
"I know Mamata for a long time. And I have great respect for her because of her fight against the Communists. And our our respect will continue," he added.
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