MDSM warns to stage State-wide agitations against Govt taking over temples

Govt. should show at least one temple where corrupt practices were stopped after it took over management ! – Sunil Ghanavat, Maharashtra State Coordinator, ‘Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh (MDSM)’

Nagpur : What is the condition of temples taken over by the Government? Magnitude of corruption has gone up in such temples. The Government should give example of at least one temple taken over by it where corruption has stopped after taking over, was the appeal made by Shri. Sunil Ghanavat, Maharashtra State Coordinator of MDSM during a press conference held on 18th July at Lokmanya Tilak Bhavan. The press conference was held to protest against Government Act for taking over management of temples under the guise of improving management.

Shri. Ajinkya Munishwar and Shri. Mayur Munishwar ‘Shripujak’ of Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir, Kolhapur; Shri. Amit Kadam, ‘Chief-pujak’ of Shri Bhavanidevi Temple; Shri. Shriram Kulkarni, Secretary of ‘Tekadi Ganesh Mandir’, Nagpur, its former Secretary Shri. Arun Kulkarni and Shri. Shrikant Pisolkar, Vidarbh-Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) shared the dais with Shri. Ghanavat.

Shri. Sunil Ghanavat said further,

1. There are several temples in the State where there is no provision for even lighting lamps but no attention is paid to them. Such temples should be taken over by the Government for better management. If Government brings transperancy in managigement of such temples, people would accept such arrangement in future.

2. The Government is preparing to take over temples at Jejuri so also Shri Mumbadevi Temple; besides Shri Shanaishchar Mandir. All pro-Hindu organizations, devotees and Trustees of temples are against the stand taken by Government.

3. The Chief Minister informed that lands, where mosques and madarasas are built, are in the name of Wakf Board. The Government can use its rights to take over mosques and churches but that requires guts.

5. Meddling by Government in the customs and traditions followed in temples will not be tolerated and State-wide agitations will be staged.

Will the Govt. show guts by interfering in religious matters of non-Hindus ? – Amit Kadam

On one hand, Government announces ‘Digital India’ and on the other hand, pass is issued for ‘darshan’ at Tuljapur Mandir. One can get ‘darshan’ of idol from 10 feet by paying Rs. 100/-; Rs. 20/- are taken from devotees standing in queue for ‘darshan’ for 5 hours. The Government is looting devotees. Devotees are allowed back-door entry on the day of ‘Dasara’ under the excuse of security and Rs. 10/- are collected from every devotee for getting ‘Teertha (holy water)’. It is commercialization of temples. Will the Government which interferes in religious matters of Hindus, do so in religious matters of non-Hindus ? Rs. 3500 crores have been allocated for development of religious places but there is no economical lodging facility for devotees at Tuljapur.

Resolve of legal fight against Govt.’s taking over temples ! – Ajinkya Munishwar

Our 52 generations are rendering service in this temple. In last 15-20 years, temple’s income has increased but earlier, we used to spend money from our pockets and offer service to the Deity. If it is only matter of money, we do not want anything from the income; but the Government didn’t take us into confidence when it was decided to take over management of this temple. I condemn taking over of temples by Government and we shall give legal fight against Government for taking over temples.