Statewide public agitations against Anti Faith Bill

Pune: Taking strong opposition to the anti-superstition act proposed by the Maharashtra Government, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) has announced statewide public agitations at various locations beginning March 13.

The Maharashtra government has proposed the Maharashtra Black Magic and Inhuman Practices (Prevention) Act, which will be tabled in this year’s state assembly. Apart from this, the State Government has also proposed to take over management of temple trusts, under the Maharashtra Temples or Religious Institutions (Management and Regulation) Act.

Speaking at a press conference, HJS district convener Sunil Ghanvat said that the practices mentioned in the act were erroneously referred to as ‘superstition’. "Since malpractices could occur in any field, these acts should be mentioned as religious malpractices," said Ghanvat. No saints or religious figures were consulted during the drafting of the act, the HJS claims.

Ghanvat also said there was no need to have a separate act against religious malpractices, since the Indian Penal Code had sufficient provisions for such crimes. "According to an application filed under the Right to Information Act, we found only 17 crimes had been registered from 2001 to 2005," said Ghanvat.

Contending that the act would be unconstitutional, the HJS said that it denied people the basic freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Constitution. Arguing that many sections of the act were unclear and open to misconception, the members claimed that according to the Act, even ordinary Satyanarayan Pujas could be misconstrued.

The HJS has also taken exception to the Maharashtra Temples or Religious Institutions (Management and Regulation) Act, wherein the government has proposed to take over the management of certain temples and trusts. "While temples have been included in the takeover list, mosques, madrasas, churches and dargahs have been intentionally excluded. Under the pretext of temple development, the government is trying to make money out of the temples," HJS members said.

To create greater public awareness, the HJS will hold protest meetings, rallies and fasts from March 13 to March 20 at various places like the District Collector’s Office, Pune, Chaphekar Chowk, Chinchwad, Tehsildar Office, Junnar, Santosh Hall Chowk, Anandnagar and District Collector’s Office, Ahmednagar.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=226359

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