All political parties should clarify their stand on takeover of temples by Govt : HJS

Why one rule for Temples, and a different one for Churches and Mosques ? – an infuriated question of devotees

While expressing its strong displeasure over the government takeover and its subsequent mismanagement of temples, the Supreme Court has made its stand clear on the issue by stating that the management of the temples should lie with the devotees; the government has no business managing it. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has been vocal about this very stance for the last 13 years, and has been actively crusading against takeover of temples by Govt since 2006. There is palpable anger among the Hindu community and devotees about the government takeover of temples and the mismanagement that ensues thereafter. Keeping this in mind, akin to their stand on the construction of Ram Temple, all political parties should clarify their stance on the government takeover of temples prior to the Lok Sabha elections, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has demanded.

The tradition of rulers donating to the temple is prevalent since time immemorial; however, following the implementation of a secular administration a systematic one-sided process of looting specifically Hindu temples was started. The government further went to the extent of replacing the temple priest and shutting down age-old religious practices and rituals. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti took a stand to fight against this injustice in 2006. Thereafter, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has with evidence exposed the corruption and financial wrongdoings of the Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Vyavasthan Samiti that looks after the management of all the major temples that have been taken over by the government, including Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir (Prabhadevi), Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir (Pandharpur), Shri Sai Sansthan (Shirdi), Shri Tuljapur Mandir and 3067 other temples across Maharashtra. The Samiti is also fighting these corrupt activities through lawful protests and judicial means. Apart from the Samiti, this battle also has active participation of Vaarkari Sect of Maharashtra, devout Hindu organisations, temple trustees, the association of pujaris (priests) and devotees.

If Muslims can take care of their mosques and Christians can look after the management of their churches in an effective manner, why has the government enforced its control over Hindus’ temples by snatching the management rights from the Hindu community? – the government has failed to answer this question of ours. The Samiti is repeating its demands that the management of Hindus’ temples be restored with selfless devotees and religious gurus. During the Vidhansabha elections in Karnataka, the BJP government had promised to return the temples to the devotees. Now, at a time when the Lok Sabha elections are upon the nation, all political parties should clarify their stand on government takeover of temples, in front of the Hindu society, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has said.