Govt Trying to Control Religious Institutions: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, May 9: The members of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) staged a protest near the deputy commissioner's office here on Monday May 9 to voice their disapproval of certain proposed amendments to the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act 1997.
The protesters accused the state government of trying to take control over Hindu religious institutions by making the amendments, and appealed to governor H R Bhardwaj not to give his consent to pass the proposed amendment Bill.
They also said that the government is unncessarily interfering with the religious affairs of the people and trying to create trouble in the Hindu community by way of passing the Bill.
They especially opposed the proposed formation of the state-controlled religious parishat and district religious parishats that would lead to interference in the functioning of the temple administrations, Hindu religious institutions and also give the government the power to resolve religious disputes, besides granting the parishats rights over temple funds, appointment of priests and even have a say on the renovation of temples.
The Bill requires the temple administrations to prepare a budget and a scheme wherein all the properties, wealth and valuables of the temple are detailed and submitted to the parishat. Every little matter would need the approval of the parishat, which in turn would lead to corruption and favouritism in the appointment of the parishat members by the government, they said.
The proposed Bill states that the parishats will comprise eight members who would be appointed by the government for a term of three years. The protesters said that bringing the temples under the control of the government would result in unwarranted rules that would hurt the sentiments of the Hindus as they are bound to their religion voluntarily and not under compulsion.
People have been voluntarily contributing to the renovation of temples across the state by means of funds and donations, and political interference would not be good for the development of the temples, they argued, and lamented that the government is trying to politicise religion and asserted that such steps will not be tolerated by the Hindu community.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner Subodh Yadav in this regard.