Hindu society has been demanding to free Hindu Temples and Mathas from government control for a long time. Sound of such demands you might have heard on and off at social media platforms. But now to make this demand reach masses with a much stronger voice and intensity, the workers of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal organized a peaceful protest march on the morning of June 19 2023 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar till 5 PM.
How to join Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal?
Representatives of various Hindu communities joined the protest, especially the Baridar community associated with Mata Vaishno Devi Baridar community is fighting for freeing Mata Vaishno Devi Temple from the control of the Government. The protest got huge support from the people in general and thousands of people gathered to make their voices heard.
With this, National President of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, Advocate Ankur Sharma, launched a NationWide movement for “Liberating Hindu Temples/Places of Worship from Selective State Control” from Jantar Mantar Delhi. He also submitted a Memorandum in this regard to the President of India.
What National President of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, Ankur Sharma said?
During the protest, Ankur Sharma addressed the supporters and said that it is just the beginning and this movement will now spread in the entire country to liberate Hindu Temples and Mathas from Government control. When the government does not have any control over the mosques and churches, then why is such control being implemented specifically on the Hindu Temples?
It is also against the principle of equality as per the constitution. Since Independence, the Hindu society has been treated with a double standard, which is unforgivable.
Ankur Sharma said that Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal has been formed with the aim of safeguarding constitutional rights of Hindus. It has been made clear in our seven principles (Sapta-Sankalp) that no further discrimination with Hindus will be tolerated now.
He further added, since Independence, all the governments have not only strengthened the laws made by Britishers, but have also increased them. The BJP government, which calls itself Pro-Hindu, has also proved by taking Uttarakhand’s Char Dhams under their control, that it is also on the same path as that of Britishers and Congress in looting Hindu Temples and Mathas. And they are doing so, in the name of handling temple operations.
What the National General Secretary of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, Sandeep Deo said?
During his address, the National General Secretary of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, Sandeep Deo said that today, most of the big HIndu Temples of India are being run by different governments. About 4 lakh Hindu temples in India are under the grip of the government and the government only has the right over the income from these temples. This is completely unethical, unfair as well as unconstitutional. According to Sandeep Deo, when the government does not have any role in the running of any mosque or church in the country, then why should the temples remain under the control of the government? This is a big question and now, the time has come to take our temples and mathas out of government control to make them free.
In one of its orders, the Madras High Court had also said that the government cannot use the land of temples by ignoring their (temples) interests. Even in the year 2019, Justice SA Bobde, the then judge of the Supreme Court of India, had said during the case of Jagannath Puri Temple that “I do not understand why government officials should run the temple?” Quoting the example of Tamil Nadu in his comments, he said that “there have been many incidents of theft of priceless idols during government control”. Justice Bobde then clearly said that “the real reason for such situations is that the devotees do not have the right to run their temples.”
Even before this, in 2014, the Supreme Court had ordered to free the famous Nataraja temple of Tamil Nadu from government control.
It should be noted that there is no government control over mosques, dargahs or churches in India. But the government has complete control over Hindu temples and Mathas. This discrimination must end now.
What the National Secretary of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, Kamal Rawat said?
Kamal Rawat, Party’s National Secretary, said that in a secular country, when the constitution forbids any kind of religious discrimination, then why is there discrimination regarding the management of places of worship?
The thing to note is that the Catholic Church has the right to property of the church. Its Trust and Board members are also exclusively Christians. Only Christians get employment there. Income tax is waived off. The money is used for conversion and running convent schools. Similarly, in case of the mosque, the right of the property is with the Muslim Waqf Board. The members of the Trust and Board shall be Muslims only. Only Muslims will get employment there. Income tax is also waived.
But when we talk about Hindu temples, the property rights are with the state governments. A non-Hindu can be a member of the trust and board. Also, irrespective of which religion one belongs to, he/she can get employment in the Hindu temple. On top of that, temples have to pay the income tax on the money offered by Hindus in temples and is used to run mosques, madrasas and even for giving grants to churches.
Today, Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal has not only embarked upon the journey of protesting against this discriminatory behavior, but also to change this unjust political system by venturing into electoral politics.
Reasons why people supporting the #FreeTemples movement?
As shared by National IT Wing Head ESB, Hardik Bhat, in one of his tweets:
One, the government has been corrupt in its management of Hindu temples. There have been allegations that government officials have embezzled temple funds, and have used temple land for their own personal gain.
Second, the government is not competent enough when it comes to managing Hindu temples. The government does not have the expertise or the resources to manage temples effectively.
Third, the government is privatizing government services & companies in the name of corruption free management. In contrast, the same government is taking Hindu temples under their control and trying to take more and more money.
What are the benefits of Free Temples?
Improved management: Temples would be managed by independent boards of trustees, who would be more accountable to the people.
Increased efficiency: Temples would be able to operate more efficiently without the bureaucratic red tape of government control.
Enhanced religious freedom: Temples would be free to conduct their religious affairs without interference from the government.
Increased financial transparency: Temple finances would be more transparent, which would help to prevent corruption.
Improved maintenance of temples: Temples would be better maintained, which would help to preserve their historical and cultural heritage.
Representatives and workers of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal participated from all the states in this protest filled with enthusiasm and energy organized at Jantar Mantar. Everyone present in the protest, took a pledge that after going from Jantar Mantar, they will take this movement to their respective states and cities to intensify it further.
If you are a true Sanatani, request you to spread awareness about this topic with other Sanatanis and make this movement huge. We need to make our Hindu Temples free from the clutches of government, so that they can function for the benefit of Hindus.
