Trustees must alert devotees against temple takeover Act � HJS’ spokesperson

Mumbai: Dr. Durgesh Samant, the national spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) appealed to the trustees of temples that they should create awareness among the devotees about the Government’s intentions to take over management of all temples and divert their funds to promote monotheism.

The State Government is drawing a plan to take over all temples and religious institutions in the State. A meeting of Trustees was held in this context to oppose the ploy. Dr. Samant drew attention of the trustees to the situation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh where similar Act was passed and the money collected from Hindu devotees was diverted for spread of Christianity and other malpractices. This includes the famous temple of Tirupati Balaji. He said further that the money is never used for Dharma-prasar; in fact, it is used for wrong things. Temples are the pillars of strength of Hindu Dharma and should be used for Dharma-prasar and protection of Dharma. Every devotee must feel that he is a trustee of temple and help for development of temple. Trustees should display on the boards, scientific information about deities.

Shri. Girish Shah, the coordinator of 600 Jain temples said that it has been claimed that the boundary wall constructed around Siddhivinayak temple cost Rs. 6 crores; but this wall could not have cost more than Rs.60.00 lacs. In this manner, the Government is planning to loot trusts and temples.

Source: ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’