VHP takes initiative to enact law to free Hindu temples, religious institutions from govt control and law against conversion

New Delhi, Nov 27: Vishwa Hindu Parishad has taken an initiative to free Hindu temples and religious institutions from government control. In order to do this, VHP top authorities are meeting seers and saints of Hindu Dharma to seek their guidance to evolve an alternate control structure, where the temples will be administered by the Hindu samaj.

 

VHP in its Central Meeting held in July 2021 had passed a resolution to Enact Central Law to free Hindu temples and religious institutions from Governments Control. The Board of Trustees of Vishva Hindu Parishad is of definite view that the Hindu temples and religious institutions should be freed from the Govt. control.

 

VHP, in a statement, said, "The temples have been the nuclei of social, religious, and cultural activities of the Hindu society and the secret of the enduring nature of Hindu Nation and immortality of Mrityunjay Bharat. Hindu devotees visit temples to internalise the sanctity and serenity of the place and contribute their offerings so that the educational institutions, health services, festivals, religious and social projects/activities run by the temples could be run in an apt manner. Therefore, besides conducting the daily sacraments and related activities, the temples have remained in vanguard supporting the society in times of crisis and emergency."

 

Further, it added, "The time has come for a comprehensive discussion regarding the management of Hindu temples and other religious institutions. Transparency and accountability should be ensured in the new framework of temple management. While deciding on the new frameworks, temple traditions, hereditary arrangements, the role of Archaks and sections dependent on the temples’ income and participation of devotees will have to be taken into account."

 

It emphasized that the government cannot be the owner of the temples. The governments and the courts of law can have some minimal necessary role, when required. What and how much would be that role, must be considered by all stakeholders. It has appealed to the Central Government to make a central law to handover Hindu Temples and religious institutions to the Hindu society, so that saints and devotees could refurbish and do up their religious and administrative systems and their traditions oriented towards ensuring the spirituo-socio-cultural dynamism of Mrityunjayi Bharat.

 

It has also called upon the Hindu Society to safeguard and enhance be vigilant about the sanctity of temples, its traditions and environment. Apart from that, it has urged the Tamil Nadu government to drop the plans to monetize the Temple ornaments by melting the ornaments into gold bars, which were donated by millions of devotees to the temples over the years. The devotees have donated to the temple for a specific reason and belief, and VHP states that Government do not have any rights to melt the ornaments into gold bars and deposited in the banks as it Is a matter of faith and belief.

 

It has also asked to enact an Anti-conversion law in the state, to prevent conversions of Hindus by various other religious institutions under Threats, Undue pressure, Allurements and False Promises. This law will enable Tamil Nadu to maintain its social fabric which in turn helps in maintaining law and order of the state and prevent anti national activities within the state in the name of conversions.