The VHP Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal in its April 2021 meeting at Haridwar had called upon all the State Governments to hand back the Hindu Temples and other Religious Institutions to the Hindu Society.
New Delhi, Nov 30: After the Uttarakhand government scrapped the Chardham Devsthanam Board Act, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the decision. This came after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday announced that the state government will be withdrawing the Act after months of protests by Char Dham Teerth-Purohit Hak Hakookdhari Mahapanchayat Samiti and other organizations.
The working international president of Vishva Hindu Parishad, Alok Kumar, welcoming the decision said, "This decision is in accordance with the Hindu sentiments and the spirit of the Indian Constitution, mandating that the governments shall not interfere in religious affairs."
The VHP Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal in its April 2021 meeting at Haridwar had called upon all the State Governments to hand back the Hindu Temples and other Religious Institutions to the Hindu Society. The then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand had also visited the meeting and the Saints had conveyed about this.
Further, he added, "The VHP shall continue its campaign for liberating the Hindu Temples from the control of various state governments. It is our cardinal belief that the Hindu Temples should be returned to and run by the Hindu Samaj; with the participation of all sections of Hindu Society and in a transparent manner. Also, the Hindu monies and properties donated to or belonging to the Temple shall only be utilized for Hindu causes."
Earlier, while annoucing this decision, Dhami said, "Our government has taken a decision to take back the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board Bill. The decision to abolish the Devasthanam Board is taken on the basis of the feedback received by Teerth Purohit, Haq Hookdhari, people's representative and report of a high-level committee."
Last December, the Uttarakhand Assembly had passed the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board Bill. The law aimed at bringing the Char Dham of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri and 49 other temples under the purview of a proposed shrine board. Many organisations including Char Dham Teerth-Purohit Hak Hakookdhari Mahapanchayat Samiti were opposing the said act. According to the temple priests, their rights are being played due to the formation of this board.
Mahapanchayat in its meeting on November 20 had decided to organise a sit-in protest against the Devasthanam Act at worship places of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham. Kedarnath Teerth Purohit Samaj had earlier claimed that the then Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat had assured to reconsider the board. The agitation against the board has been going for 21 months. Earlier, Uttarakhand High Court had dismissed two pleas challenging the validity of the said law, one of the pleas was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
