Demonstrations by HJS against Govt.’s ploy to undertake Hindu temples and religious institutions

Mumbai: The Congress united front Government with the malpractices and mismanagement in running the State, has made it bankrupt and is now planning to take over 4,50,000 temples and all religious institutions in the State. As per the recommendations of ’15th Law Commission’ formed under the chairmanship of Shri. D. N. Chaudhury, the State Government is planning to pass a Law to this effect. Severe demonstrations were held near Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai by members of HJS against the proposed Law.

Shri. Ramesh Shinde, the spokesperson of HJS said that HJS will unite all religious organizations and temples and start agitations against enactment of the Law. The Government has already taken over Sree Vitthal Mandir at Pandharpur earlier in the year 1973, Sree Siddhivinayak temple in 1980 and Shirdi’s Saibaba temple in 2004. Now under the proposed Act, it can dissolve and take over any temple trust and religious organization in the State. This would enable the Government to have control over all funds collected in the temple and religious organization.

The ‘secular’ State Government has excluded all the mosques, Durgahs and madarassas registered with the Wakf Board. The Government has put forth the reason that planning and utilization of temple funds is not done properly and therefore, the above Law is proposed. On the contrary, it is a known fact that there are malpractices and mismanagement of funds belonging to Siddhivinayak Temple Trust which is under the control of the Government. The said Trust managed by the Government is giving donations of crores of rupees, holding meetings in seven star hotels thus playing with the feelings of devotees and wasting money donated by devotees. For the last 26 weeks, on every Tuesday HJS is holding demonstrations in front of the temple against the said malpractices.

Even the State Government of Karnataka had tried to control all temples and their funds by passing such Act; but the High Court abolished the Act as it was against the basic rights. Maharashtra Government however, does not want to learn a lesson from the neighboring State and wants to go ahead with passing of the Act.