Mathura scare: Take off your glasses, Mr President, or the monkeys will

AGRA: Residents of Vrindavan in Mathura have a piece of advice for President Pranab Mukherjee — that he should take off his spectacles, or wear contact lenses, when he visits the temple town on November 16.

That is because the monkeys at the famous Banke Bihari temple, which he is scheduled to visit, tend to run riot and are known to have a particular fascination for snatching eyeglasses.

The threat from the menacing simians is so real that the district administration has deployed 10 langoors to keep the monkeys at bay during the presidential visit.

The temple, said to be built in 1862 by Haridas Swami, is infested with monkeys adept at snatching cameras, prasad, food items, and above all shades and glasses, from the visitors at a lightning speed.

Sachin Gupta, a businessman from Kanpur who recently visited the temple, has had a scary experience.

"I was about to fall from the stairs as a big monkey snatched my glares. As I stood numb, the monkey wore my shades and actually posed in front of the crowd who were all amused. A few minutes later, it crushed my glasses and threw it towards me."

Snehlata Jai Singhani, a 68-year-old devotee who had her spectacles snatched by a simian recently, has a word of caution for the president. "I will advise him to wear contact lenses or keep his spectacles inside the pocket during his visit to Banke Bihari."

President Mukherjee will be visiting Mathura-Vrindavan on November 16 to lay the foundation stone of the world's tallest Chandrodaya temple.

The district administration and police authorities are working overtime to ensure a smooth visit.

"As the president wished to visit Banke Bihari temple, we have ensured special security at every nook and corner near the temple. Besides CCTVs and additional police personnel, 10 langoors have also been brought in to curb the monkey menace in the city, especially near the temple," district magistrate Rajesh Kumar tells TOI.

Residents, who are forced to keep their doors and windows locked all the time due to marauding simians, have a grudge against the district administration though. "If langoors can be deployed for the president, then why not for the locals and other tourists," questions Rajesh Mishra, a resident of Govind Nagar.

Local businessmen have raised the issue with civic body and district administration many times, but to no avail.

During his visit, President Mukherjee will be accompanied by UP governor Ram Naik, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and scores of other high-profile politicians.

The temple will be closed to visitors for an hour (from 11.30am to 12.30pm) on November 16 while public movement in the more than three dozen narrow lanes that lead to the temple will be restricted ahead of the president's visit, informs senior superintendent of police Manzil Saini.