The Modi temple in Rajkot was a small shrine built by followers of Narendra Modi at Kothariya (also spelled Kotharia), near Rajkot in Gujarat, in early February 2015. Modi, then Prime Minister, said in public that he was appalled and asked people not to build such temples. Within a day the idol was covered, the opening was called off, and the building was either pulled down or given to Bharat Mata, depending on which report you read.
This page looks at the Rajkot episode on its own. It sets out what Modi said, what the news reports say happened next, and where those reports do not agree. It matters today because people discussing the proposed Patna temple often ask what Modi himself thinks about temples built for him. For all such temples together, see our overview of Modi temples in India.
Key takeaways
- In February 2015, followers of Narendra Modi built a small Modi temple at Kothariya, near Rajkot, Gujarat.
- Modi said he was appalled. He asked people to spend their time and money on the Clean India campaign instead.
- The Tribune reported that the building was torn down. The Daily Excelsior reported that the Modi idol would give way to Bharat Mata. Reports differ.
- The cost is given as Rs 5 lakh by the Tribune and Rs 7 lakh by the Daily Excelsior.
- Rajkot is a case from 2015. It tells us nothing official about the 2026 Patna proposal.
What happened at the Modi temple in Rajkot?
A group of Modi followers built a small shrine on Kothariya Road, on the edge of Rajkot city. The Daily Excelsior named the builders as the Om Yuva Group and quoted its leader, Ramesh Undhad. The Tribune only said "a group of followers".
The opening was planned for 15 February 2015. The Tribune reported that a Union minister, Mohan Kundariya, and some Gujarat ministers had been invited. The Daily Excelsior said the opening was cancelled.
News of the shrine spread on 12 February 2015, and Modi reacted that same day. By late evening, the Tribune said, work to take the building apart was still going on. Al Jazeera also published its report on 12 February.
Al Jazeera described the shrine as having a seated statue of Modi, with a lotus-shaped wind gauge on top. The lotus is the symbol of the BJP, Modi's party. The Tribune and the Daily Excelsior called it an idol. Reports use different words for the same object.
What did Modi say about the temple?
Different outlets quote him in slightly different ways, so we repeat only words that we saw in a published report.
This is shocking and against India's great traditions. Building such temples is not what our culture teaches us.
Narendra Modi, as quoted in a Reuters report published by Daily FT, 13 February 2015
The same report quotes him as saying "I was appalled". The Daily Excelsior quotes a message from him that reads "This is shocking & against India's great traditions" and "Would urge those doing it not to do it". It adds that he asked people to put their time and money into the Clean India (Swachh Bharat) campaign. The Tribune does not quote him directly. It says he was saddened and wanted followers to spend their energy on his Clean India dream.
Al Jazeera said Modi was appalled, but it did not give his exact words. That is a good reminder to check wording before you share a quote online.
Was the temple demolished or turned into a Bharat Mata shrine?
This is the main point where reports differ. Here is a side-by-side look at the two reports this page is built on, with Al Jazeera added.
| Question | The Tribune (12-13 Feb 2015) | Daily Excelsior (13 Feb 2015) | Al Jazeera (12 Feb 2015) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | About Rs 5 lakh | Rs 7 lakh | Not stated |
| What happened to the building | Followers demolished the whole structure after revenue officials objected | Idol covered and to be removed; shrine to be dedicated to Bharat Mata | Authorities demolished it |
| Reason given | Revenue officials said it was built without clearance | Group said it was pained to have hurt Modi's sentiments | Officials said it stood on government land |
| Bharat Mata | Land reportedly set aside by the village panchayat for a Bharat Mata temple; Modi idol to be replaced | Bharat Mata idol to be installed; 350 sq yard plot given by the panchayat about ten years earlier | A donor, Ramesh Undhad, said it would be dedicated to "Mother India" |
| Opening date | 15 February | 15 February (cancelled) | Not stated |
The reports may both be partly right. A shrine can be partly taken apart and later used for something else. But we have not seen a later report or photograph that settles what stood on the site afterwards. So we do not say the temple was "definitely demolished" or "definitely converted". We say reports differ.
Cost: Rs 5 lakh or Rs 7 lakh?
The Tribune gave an estimate of Rs 5 lakh. The Daily Excelsior said Rs 7 lakh. A lakh is 100,000 rupees, so the gap is Rs 2 lakh. Neither report shows a bill or an account book, so treat both as press estimates. Some online posts give other numbers with no source. We ignore those.
Who gave the land?
Here too the reports do not match. The Tribune and the Daily Excelsior said the village panchayat had set the plot aside for a Bharat Mata temple. Daily FT, republishing a Reuters report, said a local edible oil trader, Paresh Rawal, donated the land. Al Jazeera reported that the land belonged to the government. We cannot tell which is correct from these articles alone.
What did officials say?
Al Jazeera quoted Pankaj Halvai, the Rajkot revenue collector, who said he had learned about the Modi temple only through the media. It reported that the land was government land and that the person who had occupied it asked for the temple to be removed. The Tribune also said revenue officials called the building illegal because no permission had been taken.
So two stories run side by side. One is about Modi's wish. The other is about land rules. The reports do not say which one came first, and we should not guess.
Timeline of the Kothariya temple
- Early February 2015: Followers build a small Modi shrine on Kothariya Road. The opening is planned for 15 February.
- 12 February 2015: News spreads. Modi says he is appalled and urges people not to build such temples. The Om Yuva Group covers the idol and calls off the opening.
- 12 February, late evening: According to the Tribune, work to demolish the structure is still going on and is expected to finish overnight.
- 13 February 2015: The Daily Excelsior and Daily FT publish their reports. The group says it will put a Bharat Mata idol in the shrine.
For the 2026 events, see our timeline page. For the other cases, see the topic hub on Modi temples elsewhere.
What does Rajkot mean for the Patna proposal?
In July 2026 the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board approved a proposal to build a temple for Modi in Patna, as PTI reported on 29 July 2026. The proposal came from board member Rajan Singh. Some people use the 2015 episode to say Modi would not approve. Others say times have changed. We cannot settle that argument.
What we can say is narrow. In 2015 Modi said in public that such temples go against Indian culture. We have not found any statement by Modi, the Prime Minister's Office or the Bihar government about the Patna proposal. Read our page on where a Modi temple stands today for the current position. For the law, read whether a temple can be built for a living person. That page gives general information, not legal advice.
Myth and fact
Myth: Modi never objected to temples for himself.
Fact: In 2015, a Reuters report quotes him saying "I was appalled" about the Rajkot temple.
Myth: A Modi temple still stands in Rajkot.
Fact: The reports we read say the Modi idol was covered, removed or replaced. We have not found a report showing a Modi temple standing there now.
Myth: Modi himself ordered the demolition.
Fact: The reports say he asked people not to build such temples. Officials said the building lacked permission or stood on government land. No report we read says Modi ordered a demolition.
How does Rajkot compare with other Modi temples?
Rajkot is one of several cases. The details below come from the news reports named in each row.
| Place and year | What was reported | Outcome in reports |
|---|---|---|
| Kothariya, Rajkot, 2015 | Shrine built by followers; cost Rs 5 or 7 lakh | Modi said he was appalled; reports differ on demolition and Bharat Mata |
| Sardhana, Meerut, 2017 | A retired engineer announced a temple with a tall statue (Outlook, 6 October 2017) | We found no evidence it was built. See Meerut Modi temple |
| Aundh, Pune, 2021 | Namo Pratishthan built a small temple (Punekar News, 19 August 2021) | Idol removed after BJP leaders objected. See Pune Modi temple |
| Patna, 2026 | Board approved a proposal (PTI, 29 July 2026) | Only a proposal. No site or approved funds that we could confirm |
What we do not know yet
- What stands on the Kothariya plot today. We found no recent report or photo.
- Whether the building was fully demolished or partly reused.
- The true cost. The press gave two different figures.
- Who owned the land. Reports point to the panchayat, a private donor and the government.
- Whether Modi or his office has said anything about the 2026 Patna proposal. We found nothing.
Short glossary
- Lakh: 100,000. Rs 5 lakh is Rs 500,000.
- Panchayat: the elected council of a village.
- Revenue collector: the district officer who looks after government land records.
- Pran Pratishtha: the ceremony that invites a deity into an idol.
Common questions
Did Modi really say he was appalled about the Rajkot temple?
Yes. Reuters (through Daily FT) quoted him saying "I was appalled". Other outlets reported his dismay on 12 and 13 February 2015. The exact wording differs between reports.
Was the Rajkot Modi temple demolished?
The Tribune said followers demolished it, and Al Jazeera said local authorities tore it down. The Daily Excelsior said the idol would be removed and the shrine given to Bharat Mata. Reports differ.
How much did the Kothariya temple cost?
The Tribune said about Rs 5 lakh. The Daily Excelsior said Rs 7 lakh. Neither shows accounts.
Kya Modi ne mandir ka virodh kiya tha?
Haan, about the Rajkot temple. In 2015 he called it shocking and against India's great traditions, as Reuters and the Daily Excelsior reported. The Tribune said he was saddened.
Does the Rajkot case decide the Patna proposal?
No. It is a different case, eleven years earlier. We have found no official response from Modi to the Patna proposal.
Sources
- The Tribune: Modi appalled, followers demolish Rajkot temple (12-13 February 2015)
- Daily Excelsior: Modi appalled at temple dedicated to him, followers shelve plan (13 February 2015)
- Al Jazeera: Indian officials demolish temple dedicated to Modi (12 February 2015)
- Daily FT: Narendra Modi appalled by temple built to worship him
Last checked on 24 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us through our contact page.