Waqf and ‘Places of Worship’ Laws should be Repealed : Adv Vishnu Shankar Jain

‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ held at Nagpur

From left – Dr Parinay Fuke, Pujya Bhagirathi Maharaj, Pujya Ashok Patrikar,  Pujya Suresh Kulkarni, Adv Vishnu Shankar Jain, Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhosale

Nagpur, 25th March – Hindus have been already deprived of their right to seek justice under the Places of Worship Act. On the other hand, the Waqf Act has granted a barbaric right to non-Hindus to grab lands belonging to Hindus. Hindus have neither a right, under any law, to get back their lands illegally taken away by Waqf Board nor can they seek justice in any court for the same. It should, therefore, be a priority for Hindus to get both these laws repealed, stated Adv Vishnu Shankar Jain (practising in Supreme Court). He addressed the second ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad (Parishad)’, jointly organised by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi, Nagpur, Shri Jagadamba Devasthan Koradi, Shri Panchmukhi Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir and Hill Top Durga Mata Mandir. More than 250 trustees of temples from Nagpur city and surrounding talukas attended the Parishad.

"Repeal the Waqf and 'Places of Worship' Acts!" – Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (@Vishnu_Jain1), Supreme Court at the Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad in Nagpur@HinduJagrutiOrg @SG_HJS pic.twitter.com/WGnCoiR9Y0

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) March 25, 2025

The ’Parishad’ began with lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries viz. Saint Pujya Ashok Patrikar (Sanatan Sanstha), Pujya Suresh Kulkarni (Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad (HVP), Pujya Bhagirathi Maharaj, (President – ‘Guruseva Ashram’), advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (Supreme Court), Shrimant Mudhoji Raje Bhosale, Dr Rajendra Khedekar (Shri Martand Dev Sansthan – trustee of Jejuri Mandir), and advocate Pandurang Thorave. Pujya Ashok Patrikar read out the message sent for the occasion by Sanatan Sanstha’s founder Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Jayant Balaji Athavale.

Adv Vishnu Shankar Jain being felicitated by Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhosale

Guidance by dignitaries

Bhosale Raje Parivar is ready to help ‘Mandir Mahasangh’s mission – Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhosale, Nagpur

Mandir Mahasangh has taken up a good cause. With unity, we can put pressure on the Government for passing laws to protect Hindus’ interests. Bhosale Raj-Parivar will always be a part of the drive for the protection of temple culture and conservation of temples. Let us take this mission forward with unity.

Dev (God), Dharma and country will be safe only when temples are protected – Pujya Bhagirathi Maharaj

The Government will not protect temples. We will have to strive hard, fight for the protection of temples. Temples are the centres of power of Sanatan Dharma; therefore, temples are attacked first whenever any untoward incident happens. Temples will be instrumental in creating a huge unification of devout Hindus and through this, the path of establishment of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ will be widened. We have to walk on the path for accomplishing the massive goal of establishing ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

Hindus need to unite for protection of Dharma – Pujya (Adv) Suresh Kulkarni (HVP)

The legal fight in the case of Tuljapur Devasthan scam by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh and HVP led to prevent misappropriation of temple funds worth Rs 8.5 crores. It also created a fear among the Government officials, temple trustees involved in such embezzlement of temple funds. All Hindus should, therefore, unite for the protection of Dharma.

We will not allow grabbing of even an inch of temple-land – Sunil Ghanwat (National Convener of Mandir Mahasangh and HJS State coordinator for Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh )

There are hundreds of cases of corruption reported in connection with churches and mosques but the Government doesn’t take over their management. The Governments that do not believe in God, have no right to take over management of temples. We shall not allow anyone to garb even an inch of temple land. Our temples have stood strongly for thousands of years despite facing invasions for many centuries because our ancestors strived hard to protect the temples at the cost of their lives. It is now our duty to protect them.

Dr Rajendra Khedekar (Jejuri temple-trustee) narrated his experiences about the medical management done through the medium of temples.

Different resolutions passed in the Parishad

Temple trustees decided during group discussions to organise collective recitation of ‘Aarti’ at 25 places, to display boards about dress-code in 45 temples, to hold ‘Dharmashikshan’ classes in 20 temples, and to display ‘Dharmashikshan’ boards in 15 temples. Many temple trustees will be joining the drives of collective hoisting of ‘Gudhi’ and starting libraries. In all, 11 resolutions were unanimously passed in this ‘Parishad’ amid acclamation of ‘Har Har Mahadev’.

Mr Ashish Nagpurkar, HJS coordinator did ‘thanks-giving’ and the programme was compeered by Mrs Gauri Joshi and Mrs Ket.