Projects of funding commercial complexes worth Rs 246 crore using temple funds cancelled by Tamil Nadu Government

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – The Government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has cancelled 46 projects that were to be funded using temple funds. These projects had been approved by the previous Stalin Government. The Government said that the movable and immovable assets of temples will be used exclusively for religious and other sacred activities connected with temples.

According to the Government order, the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government had approved the construction of 29 marriage halls and 17 commercial complexes using temple funds. An estimated Rs 246 crore was to be spent on these projects; however, as work had not yet commenced, the approvals have now been revoked, considering the poor financial condition of the temples.

For several years, income generated by temples administered under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has been used for constructing marriage halls, commercial complexes and educational institutions. However, many devout Hindu organisations had opposed this practice. They argued that temple revenue should be spent only on temple maintenance, worship, rituals and religious activities.

Editorial Perspective

Every Government in the country must take a decision like that of the Tamil Nadu Government and ensure that temple funds are spent on religious activities. Hindus feel that Governments claiming to uphold Hindutva should be the first to implement such a decision.