Gurugram: A fresh wave of opposition has erupted against the proposed church construction in Tikli village, Gurugram, located at the foothills of the Aravalli range. On Sunday, a large Mahapanchayat was held in Tikli to voice discontent and protest the construction plans.
The meeting took place at the primary school in Tikli village, with residents from Tikli and surrounding areas, including youth, actively participating. The Mahapanchayat saw unanimous support for the resolution that the church would not be allowed under any circumstances. A committee was formed to plan the next steps, with the committee set to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Monday. The event was chaired by Nandkishore Yadav from Nurpur village.
According to a report by Jagran.com, the villagers made it clear that construction of the proposed church on the Tikli-Gairatpur Bas road has been temporarily halted due to the strong opposition. The youth from the village voiced their concerns, stressing that the unity, traditions, and social fabric of Tikli village would not be compromised. They accused the church’s construction of being a cover for potential conversion activities, which they vowed to prevent at all costs.
Image credits: Jagran.com
Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, former president of the District Bar Association, stated at the Panchayat that Tikli village is predominantly inhabited by the Yadav community, with no Christian families residing in the surrounding areas. Despite this, preparations for the church construction have raised significant concerns among the villagers.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) also argued that constructing any religious structure on agricultural land, where no Christian families reside, is illegal and goes against local traditions.
The villagers revealed that around four years ago, approximately 10 bighas of land were purchased for the construction. Recently, construction had begun on the land, but due to strong protests, the work was halted. The Panchayat decided that efforts would first be made to resolve the matter through social dialogue. However, the villagers have expressed their readiness to pursue a legal battle in court if necessary. They also issued a warning to those attempting to disrupt the peace and harmony of the village, promising strict action.
“No one will be allowed to interfere with the social unity and peace of Tikli village. The construction of a church on agricultural land goes against the rules. The villagers are completely united, and the church will not be built under any circumstances,” said Dr. Sunil Yadav, a local resident.
Bhimsingh, the former Sarpanch of Nurpur Jharsa, also emphasised the importance of the village’s traditions. “This matter is related to the traditions and cultural identity of the village. We will first try to resolve it through dialogue. But if needed, we are ready for a legal battle. The entire region stands with Tikli village,” he said.