'Appalled,' Says PM Narendra Modi on Temple Dedicated to Him in Gujarat

In early morning tweets today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep displeasure at a temple dedicated to him being set up in his home state of Gujarat.

"Have seen the news about a Temple being built in my name. I was appalled. This is shocking & against India's great traditions," the PM tweeted, and also, "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."

Have seen the news about a Temple being built in my name. I was appalled. This is shocking & against India's great traditions.

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2015

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.

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2015

The PM asked those building the temple to divert the time and resources they have "towards fulfilling our dream of a Clean India."

After the prime minister's disapproval, the temple trust has decided to cover up his idol and replace it with that of "Bharat Mata (mother India)."

Funded by 300 admirers, the temple was scheduled to be officially opened to the public on Sunday in Kothariya village, 130 miles from Ahmedabad.

"Narendra Modi is an icon for our youth... he is just like a God for the younger generation and that's why we have built this temple," said Jayesh Patel, a member of the Om Trust that governs the temple.

The temple took a year and Rs seven lakh to build. The Prime Minister's idol cost about Rs two lakh, according to Ramesh Undhad, a former councillor who has headed the project to collect funds and construct the temple.

"He is like a God for us and we have been worshipping him for a decade. We want a temple for him in all villages in Gujarat," Mr Undhad said.

Before he swept the national elections in May last year and moved to Delhi as Prime Minister, PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat for 13 years.