London: A 40-year-old Hindu temple and community centre, located on a complex in the eastern UK city of Peterborough, is facing fears of closure as local authorities have justified the decision to sell the building which has been let to house the temple. The Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir was established in 1986 in the city’s New England complex and is visited by more than 13,000 Hindus from across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and the greater Lincolnshire area. The temple administration is running a campaign demanding Peterborough City Council to reconsider its decision. It was told at a council cabinet meeting earlier this month that it had a “legal responsibility to get the best value for taxpayers from the sale of the property”.
At the same time, the temple said in a statement, “We strongly condemn the sale of a building belonging to the Bharat Hindu Samaj. An institution built by the community should not be sold behind closed doors without transparency or consent.” “It is not just about wealth, but about legacy, trust and accountability,” it said. The community deserves answers, not privacy. This decision must be questioned and protested.” Hindu Council UK, the main body representing British Hindus, has accused the new administration of the Labour-led Peterborough City Council (PCC) of ignoring its commitment to pre-judge the “social impact value” of the temple and transfer its ownership to the Indian Hindu community.
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