Let’s free our Temples from the clutches of the Government

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has been working for temples for many years. Be it a fight against the takeover of temples by the Government or the fight against corruption in Government controlled temples, HJS has always been at the forefront. To give a broader dimension to this struggle, we had resolved in the last Edition of the Hindu Rashtra Convention to form a Mandir Mahasangh to unite temples under one platform. Accordingly, we established the Mandir Mahasangh and in the States of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, the activities of the Mahasangh have not only commenced but have already started showing positive results. Today, about 14,000 temples in these 3 States are connected. The success in bringing temples together in such large numbers only shows the need to unite – felt by all the temple trustees.

To be honest, the secular Government of India has no right to seize Hindu temples and take their wealth or change the ancient traditions of the temples. These so-called secular Governments provide no financial assistance to temples, do not participate or provide no help for any activity associated with (Hindu) Dharma. How do they then have the right to administer temples ? At the same time, these very secular politicians cannot bring any mosque or church under Government control. So, why this step-motherly treatment to Hindu temples by the Government ? In this regard, we have to take up the task of awakening the Hindus and uniting the trustees of the temples.

With regards to the unity of temples, ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ was founded at Jalgaon on 5^th February 2023. Thereafter, on behalf of the Mahasangh, a 2-day ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ was organised on 2^nd and 3^rd December 2023 at Vighnahar Temple in Ozar, which is one among the Ashtavinayak temples. Trustees of around 600 temples in Maharashtra, as well as warriors fighting against corruption in temples, participated in this Convention.

In Karnataka, representatives of over 800 temples participated in the Temple Convention held on 2nd and 3rd December 2023. On 11^th December 2023, representatives of more than 300 temples participated in the Temple Convention organised by Gomantak Mandir Mahasangh in Goa. In these three Conventions, various issues such as the problems faced by the temples and their solutions were discussed in detail. Temple trustees who participated in the Conventions in Maharashtra and Karnataka formed District-wise action committees of trustees and worked hard for the purpose of uniting the temples in their respective Districts. As a result, about 14,000 temples in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are affiliated with the Mandir Mahasangh.

All this is the handiwork of God who gave us this success and to the office bearers of the Mandir Mahasangh, who are working tirelessly for it.

The success of Mandir Mahasangh

The success achieved because of
the unity of temples through the Mandir Mahasangh

1. In December 2023, a resolution was passed during the Temple Convention in Karnataka to protest against the Congress Government’s attempt to take over some more temples. As a result, Minister Ramalingam Reddy of the Congress had to immediately approach the media to clarify that the Congress Government had no such proposal. This is the effect of the unity among temples. The Congress Government then introduced a Bill to levy 10% tax on temple income. After strong opposition, the Bill was rejected in the Legislative Council, and the Governor also sent it back to the Congress Government. It should be noted from this that if the temple trustees, priests, devotees, etc. are united, even the Congress Party will not be able to do anything against the temples.

2. There is vast corruption in the temples taken over by the Government and we have seen many examples. Sixteen officials were involved In the Rs 8.5 crore donation box scam in Tuljapur Temple. Despite being named in the inquiry report, no crime has been registered against them since 2017. Hence, a petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of HJS by Adv. Suresh Kulkarni of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad. In May this year, the Bombay High Court ordered that criminal cases be registered against the concerned officials and to conduct further investigation through an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police. This is a big win. In the same way, in the coming times, a campaign will be launched against the misadministration in the other temples taken over by the Government. For this we have to try to bring together as many advocates working for temple protection as possible.

3. For devotees to get educated on Dharma, we have started displaying Dharmashikshan boards in many temples. A free library of Scriptures and Texts on Hindu Dharma has been started in some temples.

4. Efforts have been made to enforce a Dress Code to prohibit entry of visitors into temples wearing short, obscene clothes. Many temples & devotees have welcomed this change, and today over 650 temples have put up boards advising visitors to strictly follow the Dress Code.

– Mr Ramesh Shinde
(Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti)

The secular Government of India has no right to seize Hindu temples and take their wealth or change their ancient traditions !