Halmodi tense as HJM gears up for shilanyas

Halmodi tense as HJM gears up for shilanyas
BASANT RAWAT

HALMODI (SURAT DIST), DEC 21: The small village of Halmodi, 43 km from the Dangs district headquarter Ahwa, has shot into limelight with the Government saying yes to the shilanyas.

The village, saffronised by the flags hoisted all along the road, has never before received so much attention from the State Government, district authorities or the media. So much so that Home Minister Haren Pandya had to even visit the village where the HJM has planned to build a Ram temple.

On the eve of the shilanyas, Waghai-based Swami Aseemanand visited the village where the Sangh Parivar has pressed into service its entire manpower mobilised from Songadh, Vyara and Vansda to make arrangements for the shilanyas. With certain restrictions imposed by the Surat district authorities, the HJM has been granted permission to hold shilanyas. The ceremony, beginning at 10 am, will now conclude at 3 pm. Earlier, the organisers had planned a day and night long programme.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensurethat the shilanyas passes off peacefully. Besides the DSP, five deputy SPs, five inspectors, 21 sub-inspectors, and one company of the Rapid Action Force will be deployed in the village tomorrow. Though V M Pargi, DSP (Surat Rural), who is camping in Halmodi, ``is not apprehending any trouble, any breach of law,'' he admits the atmosphere in the village is surcharged, with more than 2,000 people expected to assemble for the shilanyas. Though the authorities say they are taking no chances, Navsukhbhai, a tribal Christian, is apprehensive. ``Tomorrow, I will not move out of my house,'' he says.

But then that's easier said than done as he is worried that his crop might be destroyed. This, despite the DSP saying that policemen had been deployed in the fields too. What hurts Navsukh most is that like last year, he and his fellow Christians will not celebrate Christmas in the village. They will go to Pipalwada, seven km from Halmodi, to avoid any confrontation with the HJM.