07-08-2007, 03:13 AM
via email..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Letter to Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji, RSS  &
      Shri Rajnath Singh ji, President , BJP
Subject: Two basic issues for onward march of the Hindu Society:Â a) Establishing Hindu Advisory Councils for management oversight in Govt. controlled temples; b) Amendment of Article 30 of Constitution bringing at par benefits, rights and privileges of Hindu educational institutions with those held by minorities.
Aadarniya Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji,
Aadarniya Shri Rajnath Singh ji,
BJP sympathizers were thoroughly disappointed by BJP's lack of persuasive appeal to the majority community as evidenced by the outcome of the recent elections. This phenomenon further encouraged the counter culturists to bring in a tainted Ms. Pratibha Patil as the President of India. In view of this debacle we wish to point out two non- controversial yet basic issues for taking up by the RSS-BJP family: 1) autonomy and community governance of temples; 2) Amendment to Article 30 of the Constitution for allowing same benefits to Hindu institutions as available to such institutions of other communities. We believe that the realization of these two central goals should put the RSS/ BJP back in business. Reciting the mantra of Hindutva without any noticeable and substantial service to Hinduism has proved ineffective and futile. The resolution of the Ayodhya imbroglio is a long term issue. For all intents and purposes its urgency seems to have fizzled out. On the other hand the issues put forth by us, in view of their basic spiritual and educational component, are currently relevant while promising long term benefit towards the Hindu resurgence.
1) Temples under Govt. control:Â Sadly, the state authorities seem oblivious that under the provisions of the Indian constitution, controlling, discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely outside the parameters of government jurisdiction. This is a non- controversial yet fundamental issue of Hindus rights and deserves to be taken up with appropriate urgency for defending the cultural heritage of the majority community and thereby averting its cultural downfall.
2) In many states of India particularly in the South: a) the temples and the religious infrastructure are devastated by mismanagement and siphoning off their revenue for non Hindu religious purposes, sometimes to promote adversarial religions ;Â b) Govt. Control of Temples violates Laws of the Land, and the norms of trusteeship; c) the Govt. management systems operate in totalitarian manner without any transparency and community participation; and d)Â Vital Functions of temples are denied e.g. dharma shiksha, dharma prachar (preaching) , dharma prasar (propagation) and sewa for the poor like other religions e.g. Christian institutions. This has generated a deep resentment in the billion strong Hindu global community.
3) The latest assault by the Kerala Govt. is the takeover of Temples . The Hindu community and those believing in âfreedom of religionâ in Kerala remain restive and agitated due to the Govt. action for altering the administrative set up of the controlled temples. Under its new policy, the administration and appointment of the members of the Travacore and Cochin Boards (autonomous till recently) and the decision to recruit temple staff through Public Service Commission has led to large scale protests in the state. Our communiqué to the Kerala Chief Minister on this issue may be seen in the attached letter.
4) May we suggest that RSS/ BJP take the initiative for public service and persuade state governments to restore communityâs role in temple management by co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils:Â Such Councils could play a role in oversight and decision making process of the endowments department and temple Trusts . These Councils elected or nominated by the Community, state and national religious leaders could eventually shoulder these responsibilities. Such an interim step, pending denationalization and formation of autonomous boards, could also stop desecration and decimation of the religious infrastructure under Govt. control.
5) Pride for Hinduism and its grandeur could be created by the exposition of its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagwad Geeta - its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values. However, such knowledge that the community would like to project and propagate is not only denied by the state control of temples, but there are deliberate and irreversible Govt. actions towards liquidating the resources of endowments meant for temples sustenance in perpetuity. The temples are also the centers of community's socio-cultural and religious life, a place of learning with Acharyas, for learning about community sewa, dharma prachar and for building character.Â
6) "Article 30 of the Constitution is divisive and flawed. Not only does it patronize jihadists but also penalizes nationalists and handicaps mass education; it must be amended: A recent petition in Allahabad High Court for "claiming minority status by an educational institution run by a Buddhist on the grounds that it belonged to Buddhists, whose population was below 50 per cent", points to a serious issue. This Article is divisive and rewards the acts of fragmenting the community, violates and contradicts the secular Constitution by enforcing religion based discrimination against the Hindu educational institutions and therefore, must be amended to make it non-discriminatory and universal.
7) The BJP should set an example by urgently co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils in the BJP ruled states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This could easily be done through administrative mechanisms or by a minor amendment of the endowment Acts. Such measures should introduce and enlarge the much needed transparency and proper religious management of temples. After co-opting Advisory Councils in BJP ruled states, BJP could challenge all other states to follow suit. Here is an example of fast moving actions taken by a state Chief Minister:
Maharashtra sets Example of fast action: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced on June 22, to give Rs 15 crore to Maharashtra Waqf Board to streamline its works and strengthen its existing infrastructure. The Chief Minister also assured the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by Lal Jan Pasha that his government would clear the encroachments on waqf land within the next six weeks. The chief minister also said that he was willing to amend the waqf board act in order to make eviction of illegal occupants in waqf properties easier. .... There are around 4 lakh waqf properties in the state. Why canât BJP ruled states take similar actions?
8) Summarizing the issues raised here we are convinced that this interim plan of oversight by Hindu Councils would help save the Hindu religious infrastructure from imminent demolition and ensure proper management of temple operations. The campaign to amend the Article 30 of the Constitution on the other hand will educate, agitate, activate and organize the concerned public for the realization of this goal and as a consequence in future elections substantially improve the electoral fortune of the BJP.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
With respectful pranams,
Dr. Jagan Kaul
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (USA)
(snip)
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Letter to Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji, RSS  &
      Shri Rajnath Singh ji, President , BJP
Subject: Two basic issues for onward march of the Hindu Society:Â a) Establishing Hindu Advisory Councils for management oversight in Govt. controlled temples; b) Amendment of Article 30 of Constitution bringing at par benefits, rights and privileges of Hindu educational institutions with those held by minorities.
Aadarniya Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji,
Aadarniya Shri Rajnath Singh ji,
BJP sympathizers were thoroughly disappointed by BJP's lack of persuasive appeal to the majority community as evidenced by the outcome of the recent elections. This phenomenon further encouraged the counter culturists to bring in a tainted Ms. Pratibha Patil as the President of India. In view of this debacle we wish to point out two non- controversial yet basic issues for taking up by the RSS-BJP family: 1) autonomy and community governance of temples; 2) Amendment to Article 30 of the Constitution for allowing same benefits to Hindu institutions as available to such institutions of other communities. We believe that the realization of these two central goals should put the RSS/ BJP back in business. Reciting the mantra of Hindutva without any noticeable and substantial service to Hinduism has proved ineffective and futile. The resolution of the Ayodhya imbroglio is a long term issue. For all intents and purposes its urgency seems to have fizzled out. On the other hand the issues put forth by us, in view of their basic spiritual and educational component, are currently relevant while promising long term benefit towards the Hindu resurgence.
1) Temples under Govt. control:Â Sadly, the state authorities seem oblivious that under the provisions of the Indian constitution, controlling, discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely outside the parameters of government jurisdiction. This is a non- controversial yet fundamental issue of Hindus rights and deserves to be taken up with appropriate urgency for defending the cultural heritage of the majority community and thereby averting its cultural downfall.
2) In many states of India particularly in the South: a) the temples and the religious infrastructure are devastated by mismanagement and siphoning off their revenue for non Hindu religious purposes, sometimes to promote adversarial religions ;Â b) Govt. Control of Temples violates Laws of the Land, and the norms of trusteeship; c) the Govt. management systems operate in totalitarian manner without any transparency and community participation; and d)Â Vital Functions of temples are denied e.g. dharma shiksha, dharma prachar (preaching) , dharma prasar (propagation) and sewa for the poor like other religions e.g. Christian institutions. This has generated a deep resentment in the billion strong Hindu global community.
3) The latest assault by the Kerala Govt. is the takeover of Temples . The Hindu community and those believing in âfreedom of religionâ in Kerala remain restive and agitated due to the Govt. action for altering the administrative set up of the controlled temples. Under its new policy, the administration and appointment of the members of the Travacore and Cochin Boards (autonomous till recently) and the decision to recruit temple staff through Public Service Commission has led to large scale protests in the state. Our communiqué to the Kerala Chief Minister on this issue may be seen in the attached letter.
4) May we suggest that RSS/ BJP take the initiative for public service and persuade state governments to restore communityâs role in temple management by co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils:Â Such Councils could play a role in oversight and decision making process of the endowments department and temple Trusts . These Councils elected or nominated by the Community, state and national religious leaders could eventually shoulder these responsibilities. Such an interim step, pending denationalization and formation of autonomous boards, could also stop desecration and decimation of the religious infrastructure under Govt. control.
5) Pride for Hinduism and its grandeur could be created by the exposition of its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagwad Geeta - its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values. However, such knowledge that the community would like to project and propagate is not only denied by the state control of temples, but there are deliberate and irreversible Govt. actions towards liquidating the resources of endowments meant for temples sustenance in perpetuity. The temples are also the centers of community's socio-cultural and religious life, a place of learning with Acharyas, for learning about community sewa, dharma prachar and for building character.Â
6) "Article 30 of the Constitution is divisive and flawed. Not only does it patronize jihadists but also penalizes nationalists and handicaps mass education; it must be amended: A recent petition in Allahabad High Court for "claiming minority status by an educational institution run by a Buddhist on the grounds that it belonged to Buddhists, whose population was below 50 per cent", points to a serious issue. This Article is divisive and rewards the acts of fragmenting the community, violates and contradicts the secular Constitution by enforcing religion based discrimination against the Hindu educational institutions and therefore, must be amended to make it non-discriminatory and universal.
7) The BJP should set an example by urgently co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils in the BJP ruled states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This could easily be done through administrative mechanisms or by a minor amendment of the endowment Acts. Such measures should introduce and enlarge the much needed transparency and proper religious management of temples. After co-opting Advisory Councils in BJP ruled states, BJP could challenge all other states to follow suit. Here is an example of fast moving actions taken by a state Chief Minister:
Maharashtra sets Example of fast action: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced on June 22, to give Rs 15 crore to Maharashtra Waqf Board to streamline its works and strengthen its existing infrastructure. The Chief Minister also assured the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by Lal Jan Pasha that his government would clear the encroachments on waqf land within the next six weeks. The chief minister also said that he was willing to amend the waqf board act in order to make eviction of illegal occupants in waqf properties easier. .... There are around 4 lakh waqf properties in the state. Why canât BJP ruled states take similar actions?
8) Summarizing the issues raised here we are convinced that this interim plan of oversight by Hindu Councils would help save the Hindu religious infrastructure from imminent demolition and ensure proper management of temple operations. The campaign to amend the Article 30 of the Constitution on the other hand will educate, agitate, activate and organize the concerned public for the realization of this goal and as a consequence in future elections substantially improve the electoral fortune of the BJP.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
With respectful pranams,
Dr. Jagan Kaul
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (USA)
(snip)
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