04-26-2005, 02:54 PM
Uttaranchal Law to takeover temples and shrines would be anti-Hindu
and anti- secular
The attached letter to the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal is in response to
their proposal to take over shrines and temples. This is an issue of
serious concern to every Hindu and nationalist.
Nationalization and state control of the places of religious worship and
their estates cuts at the very roots of the fundamental principles of
secularism which dictates the separation of state and religion.
Assigning such jurisdiction to an autonomous Hindu community Board would
be the most appropriate instrument for guidance and governance of shrines
and temples to satisfy public and government concerns, if any, on
management - the age old practice without the governmental dictates and as
followed by other religious communities.
The proposed Act can be termed not only as "anti-Hindu" but also
"anti-national" for Hinduism is the single most important unifying factor
in India's body politic.
Please circulate the attached letter. You may also send your comments to
the following
Chief Minister, Uttaranchal (UA) cmua@ua.nic.in
Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari
Governor, Uttaranchal (UA) governor@ua.nic.in
Shri Sudershan Agawal
Prime Minister, New Delhi manmohan@sansad.nic.in
President of India pressecy@alpha.nic.in
(presss secretary)
Shri L.K . Advani, BJP advanilk@sansad.nic.in
BJP, New Delhi bjpco@del3.vsnl.net.in
VHP, New Delhi jaishriram@vsnl.in, jaishriram@vichaar.net,.
Thanks
Krishan Bhatnagar
Note: The first and last paragraphs form the basic summary of the
presentation. These may be used for your comments or letters to persons
above.
==============================================
Letter to Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, Chief Minister,
Uttaranchal
Subject: Law to takeover the Hindu shrines, temples and their estates
would be anti-Hindu, violative of Constitution -- and of Nehruvian ideals
of secularism.
Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Tiwari ji,
We are deeply dismayed by your government's plans to promulgate a new
though unconstitutional law with intent to nationalize the management of
the Hindu shrines and temples in Uttaranchal (attachment A). It is a
matter of serious public concern that Hindu religious places should be
unilaterally brought under government control particularly in a Congress
ruled state despite the party's professed adherence to the principles of
secularism. The doctrine of nationalization and state control of the
places of religious worship and their estates cuts at the very roots of
the fundamental principles of secularism which dictates the separation of
state and religion. Assigning such jurisdiction to an autonomous Hindu
community Board could be the most appropriate instrument for guidance and
governance of shrines and temples to satisfy public and government
concerns, if any, on management - the age old practice without the
governmental dictates and as followed by other religious communities.
For any potential allegations of mismanagement, scores of legal avenues
are available to the aggrieved parties- a practice followed by other
religionists' shrines and business organizations. Under such scenario,
the appropriate judicial authorities may appoint auditors and make
specific recommendations for transparency and accountability but without
clamping down government control upon the religious entities. Further,
enforcing such a draconian law only upon the shrines of the majority
community is highly discriminatory and out right unconstitutional.
If the intention of the Act is to rationalize operation and maintenance of
shrines, an autonomous Hindu body composed of the devotee public, pujaris
and Hindu religious leaders, represented by the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha
(HDAS) should be formed for running the management according to the
wishes of devotees and donors, who have supported these institutions since
ancient times. There are other dharmik aspects also, e.g. sewa and dharma
prachar that only an NGO could pursue - again the practice in vogue in
other religious organizations.
Our contention encompasses the legal and philosophical commitment of the
secular Indian State - that the management and administration of the
religious institutions, their estates and places of worship, must reside
in the hands of the representative bodies of the believers. This proposed
Act should be viewed in the context of its application to similar
institutions of other religious formations. For instance: How would Sikhs
(Golden temple), Muslims (Jama Masjid) or Christians react to Govt.
control of their places of worship? Frankly this whole issue could ignite
the communal volcano setting the entire country on fire particularly the
state of its origin.
Before the state government attempts to impose this highly questionable
and provocative law here are some of the basic questions it must ponder
upon. What authority, background and special training the government
operatives posses for controlling every aspect of the cultural centers of
Hindus when the concept of secularism - neutrality towards religions - is
enshrined in the Indian constitution? Why not allow autonomous Hindu
boards to govern temples under the guidance of religious leaders, just as
it is permissible in the case of other religions? The Waqf Board of
Muslims and the management of Christian churches and religious
institutions have vast funds, properties and endowments, in addition to
the immense flow of foreign funds - yet their independence and autonomy is
left intact !
The state authorities must realize that under the provisions of the Indian
constitution discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions
is completely and fully out side the scope of the government in office.
Sir, may we suggest that the representatives of shrines, temples, Hindu
community and religious leaders from Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, etc. be
motivated to convene an assembly where they could be asked to take charge
of clearly defining the new legal framework for the community governance
of the religious places. Such an approach among other things could make
the Board completely autonomous and thereby responsible for the entire
administration including planning, executing, auditing, guiding,
investigating and taking corrective steps on allegations and or complaints
as and when needed.
Hon'ble Chief Minister, may we request that rather than taking over the
religious places, you exercise your leadership in motivating the Hindu
community develop necessary organizational infrastructure in order to
assume the charge of managing the Hindu shrines, temples and their estates
in a legal, democratic and transparent manner. On the other hand, any
violation or erosion of community's freedom for managing the places of
religious importance and imposition of government dictates is fraught with
serious consequences. Such an intrusion by the government authority in
otherwise an autonomous domain has a potential to generate a chain of
serious consequences including the charge against the state for
dismantling Hinduism. Consequently, the proposed Act will be termed not
only as "anti-Hindu" but also "anti-national" for Hinduism is the single
most important unifying factor in India's body politic.
With best wishes and looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jagan Kaul April 25, 2005
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (Maryland, USA)
email: krishan.kb@verizon.net
=========================================
Attachment A
Threat to thwart opening of hill shrines
The Hindu; April 9, 2005
By Our Staff Correspondent
http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/09/stories/...900500.htm
DEHRA DUN, APRIL 8. The Char Dham Teerth Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has
threatened to not allow reopening of the doors of the Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines if the Government does not drop
the move to bring about an Act to regulate the management of the shrines
and temples in Uttaranchal.
Describing the move as an attempt by the Government to convert the shrines
into revenue earning centres, the Samiti president, Ashok Semwal, accused
politicians and bureaucrats of trying to assume powers that could be used
to threaten the priests and Temple Committees that refused to obey their
dictats.
A Government spokesman, however, said that the fears of the various
samitis were baseless as the proposed Act aimed at regulating the
management of the shrines and developing the areas around them without
interfering into their routine functioning or the rights, traditions or
privileges of the local priests or population.
and anti- secular
The attached letter to the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal is in response to
their proposal to take over shrines and temples. This is an issue of
serious concern to every Hindu and nationalist.
Nationalization and state control of the places of religious worship and
their estates cuts at the very roots of the fundamental principles of
secularism which dictates the separation of state and religion.
Assigning such jurisdiction to an autonomous Hindu community Board would
be the most appropriate instrument for guidance and governance of shrines
and temples to satisfy public and government concerns, if any, on
management - the age old practice without the governmental dictates and as
followed by other religious communities.
The proposed Act can be termed not only as "anti-Hindu" but also
"anti-national" for Hinduism is the single most important unifying factor
in India's body politic.
Please circulate the attached letter. You may also send your comments to
the following
Chief Minister, Uttaranchal (UA) cmua@ua.nic.in
Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari
Governor, Uttaranchal (UA) governor@ua.nic.in
Shri Sudershan Agawal
Prime Minister, New Delhi manmohan@sansad.nic.in
President of India pressecy@alpha.nic.in
(presss secretary)
Shri L.K . Advani, BJP advanilk@sansad.nic.in
BJP, New Delhi bjpco@del3.vsnl.net.in
VHP, New Delhi jaishriram@vsnl.in, jaishriram@vichaar.net,.
Thanks
Krishan Bhatnagar
Note: The first and last paragraphs form the basic summary of the
presentation. These may be used for your comments or letters to persons
above.
==============================================
Letter to Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, Chief Minister,
Uttaranchal
Subject: Law to takeover the Hindu shrines, temples and their estates
would be anti-Hindu, violative of Constitution -- and of Nehruvian ideals
of secularism.
Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Tiwari ji,
We are deeply dismayed by your government's plans to promulgate a new
though unconstitutional law with intent to nationalize the management of
the Hindu shrines and temples in Uttaranchal (attachment A). It is a
matter of serious public concern that Hindu religious places should be
unilaterally brought under government control particularly in a Congress
ruled state despite the party's professed adherence to the principles of
secularism. The doctrine of nationalization and state control of the
places of religious worship and their estates cuts at the very roots of
the fundamental principles of secularism which dictates the separation of
state and religion. Assigning such jurisdiction to an autonomous Hindu
community Board could be the most appropriate instrument for guidance and
governance of shrines and temples to satisfy public and government
concerns, if any, on management - the age old practice without the
governmental dictates and as followed by other religious communities.
For any potential allegations of mismanagement, scores of legal avenues
are available to the aggrieved parties- a practice followed by other
religionists' shrines and business organizations. Under such scenario,
the appropriate judicial authorities may appoint auditors and make
specific recommendations for transparency and accountability but without
clamping down government control upon the religious entities. Further,
enforcing such a draconian law only upon the shrines of the majority
community is highly discriminatory and out right unconstitutional.
If the intention of the Act is to rationalize operation and maintenance of
shrines, an autonomous Hindu body composed of the devotee public, pujaris
and Hindu religious leaders, represented by the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha
(HDAS) should be formed for running the management according to the
wishes of devotees and donors, who have supported these institutions since
ancient times. There are other dharmik aspects also, e.g. sewa and dharma
prachar that only an NGO could pursue - again the practice in vogue in
other religious organizations.
Our contention encompasses the legal and philosophical commitment of the
secular Indian State - that the management and administration of the
religious institutions, their estates and places of worship, must reside
in the hands of the representative bodies of the believers. This proposed
Act should be viewed in the context of its application to similar
institutions of other religious formations. For instance: How would Sikhs
(Golden temple), Muslims (Jama Masjid) or Christians react to Govt.
control of their places of worship? Frankly this whole issue could ignite
the communal volcano setting the entire country on fire particularly the
state of its origin.
Before the state government attempts to impose this highly questionable
and provocative law here are some of the basic questions it must ponder
upon. What authority, background and special training the government
operatives posses for controlling every aspect of the cultural centers of
Hindus when the concept of secularism - neutrality towards religions - is
enshrined in the Indian constitution? Why not allow autonomous Hindu
boards to govern temples under the guidance of religious leaders, just as
it is permissible in the case of other religions? The Waqf Board of
Muslims and the management of Christian churches and religious
institutions have vast funds, properties and endowments, in addition to
the immense flow of foreign funds - yet their independence and autonomy is
left intact !
The state authorities must realize that under the provisions of the Indian
constitution discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions
is completely and fully out side the scope of the government in office.
Sir, may we suggest that the representatives of shrines, temples, Hindu
community and religious leaders from Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, etc. be
motivated to convene an assembly where they could be asked to take charge
of clearly defining the new legal framework for the community governance
of the religious places. Such an approach among other things could make
the Board completely autonomous and thereby responsible for the entire
administration including planning, executing, auditing, guiding,
investigating and taking corrective steps on allegations and or complaints
as and when needed.
Hon'ble Chief Minister, may we request that rather than taking over the
religious places, you exercise your leadership in motivating the Hindu
community develop necessary organizational infrastructure in order to
assume the charge of managing the Hindu shrines, temples and their estates
in a legal, democratic and transparent manner. On the other hand, any
violation or erosion of community's freedom for managing the places of
religious importance and imposition of government dictates is fraught with
serious consequences. Such an intrusion by the government authority in
otherwise an autonomous domain has a potential to generate a chain of
serious consequences including the charge against the state for
dismantling Hinduism. Consequently, the proposed Act will be termed not
only as "anti-Hindu" but also "anti-national" for Hinduism is the single
most important unifying factor in India's body politic.
With best wishes and looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jagan Kaul April 25, 2005
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (Maryland, USA)
email: krishan.kb@verizon.net
=========================================
Attachment A
Threat to thwart opening of hill shrines
The Hindu; April 9, 2005
By Our Staff Correspondent
http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/09/stories/...900500.htm
DEHRA DUN, APRIL 8. The Char Dham Teerth Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has
threatened to not allow reopening of the doors of the Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines if the Government does not drop
the move to bring about an Act to regulate the management of the shrines
and temples in Uttaranchal.
Describing the move as an attempt by the Government to convert the shrines
into revenue earning centres, the Samiti president, Ashok Semwal, accused
politicians and bureaucrats of trying to assume powers that could be used
to threaten the priests and Temple Committees that refused to obey their
dictats.
A Government spokesman, however, said that the fears of the various
samitis were baseless as the proposed Act aimed at regulating the
management of the shrines and developing the areas around them without
interfering into their routine functioning or the rights, traditions or
privileges of the local priests or population.