Implementing the Endowment Act Only for Hindu Temples is Double Standards: Swamy

[P.J.]

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Implementing the Endowment Act Only for Hindu Temples is Double Standards: Swamy


10th October 2015

VISAKHAPATNAM: Hitting it out at the consecutive governments in the states and the Centre, BJP senior leader and Virat Hindustan Sangam president Subramanian Swamy on Saturday accused them of resorting to double standards and implementing the Endowment Act only for Hindu temples but not for other religious places of worship. He dared them to either repeal the Endowment Act for temples or implement it for all religions.

Delivering the keynote address at a symposium on 'Repeal of Endowment Act' organised by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) at YVS Murthy auditorium of Andhra University here Saturday, Subramanian Swamy gave a clarion call to free the temples from the clutches of the government.

He felt that under the guise of Endowment Act, the governments have been selectively controlling the temples and exploiting the temple properties besides turning them into a source of revenue.

"The Endowment Act itself is in violation of the Article 26 of the Indian Constitution (which allows freedom to manage religious affairs). Why is it being implemented only for Hindus but not for other religions?" he questioned.

However, Swamy emphasised the need to find a way for the temple administration. "Every temple in this country can be freed from the government control but we need to find an administration system run by people," he added.

He termed the new century as the century of Hindu Renaissance. On the occasion, he shared his experiences in different cases in the Supreme Court over the Endowment Act, judgement in favour of the Dikshitars to control over the Chindambaram temple in Tamil Nadu and also stopping the gold plating of Tirumala temple.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...bramanian-Swamy/2015/10/10/article3072784.ece

 

[yesmohan]

Implementing the Endowment Act Only for Hindu Temples is Double Standards: Swamy


10th October 2015

VISAKHAPATNAM: Hitting it out at the consecutive governments in the states and the Centre, BJP senior leader and Virat Hindustan Sangam president Subramanian Swamy on Saturday accused them of resorting to double standards and implementing the Endowment Act only for Hindu temples but not for other religious places of worship. He dared them to either repeal the Endowment Act for temples or implement it for all religions.

Delivering the keynote address at a symposium on 'Repeal of Endowment Act' organised by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) at YVS Murthy auditorium of Andhra University here Saturday, Subramanian Swamy gave a clarion call to free the temples from the clutches of the government.

He felt that under the guise of Endowment Act, the governments have been selectively controlling the temples and exploiting the temple properties besides turning them into a source of revenue.

"The Endowment Act itself is in violation of the Article 26 of the Indian Constitution (which allows freedom to manage religious affairs). Why is it being implemented only for Hindus but not for other religions?" he questioned.

However, Swamy emphasised the need to find a way for the temple administration. "Every temple in this country can be freed from the government control but we need to find an administration system run by people," he added.

He termed the new century as the century of Hindu Renaissance. On the occasion, he shared his experiences in different cases in the Supreme Court over the Endowment Act, judgement in favour of the Dikshitars to control over the Chindambaram temple in Tamil Nadu and also stopping the gold plating of Tirumala temple.

For the question Swamy in para I, ragarding ".......resorting to double standards and implementing the Endowment Act only for Hindu temples but not for other religious places of worship..... the answer is in the last para of the thread itself.

Chidambaram, Thirumala temple administrations are outside the purview of H.R. &.C.E. Act.
Supreme Court has thrown out the H.R. & C.E. srom the premises of the Chiadambaram temple.

First let him talk about the single point control of all Hindu temples in one fold (H.R. &C.E.) ; then about the other religious places of worship.

 

[sangom]

For the question Swamy in para I, ragarding ".......resorting to double standards and implementing the Endowment Act only for Hindu temples but not for other religious places of worship..... the answer is in the last para of the thread itself.

Chidambaram, Thirumala temple administrations are outside the purview of H.R. &.C.E. Act.
Supreme Court has thrown out the H.R. & C.E. srom the premises of the Chiadambaram temple.

First let him talk about the single point control of all Hindu temples in one fold (H.R. &C.E.) ; then about the other religious places of worship.

We now have so many Swamijis, Acharyas, etc., building their own temples, Vedapatashalas, etc., and I think all these are outside the purview of HR&CE. There was a time, I have been told by elders, when hindu temples were controlled only by the three higher castes. The old generation says it was a "golden period". But they also, inadvertently, slip out news about how temple lands were systematically 'devoured' by the (caste-wise and status-wise) powerful people so that they grew richer and richer. I think this, together with deteriorating standards of the priests (in terms of knowledge of scriptures and the temple worship procedures, etc.) resulted in the HR&CE.

Will abolition of government control ensure honesty in management of temple funds, payment of taxes without evasion,and maintenance of temples with maximum care? I feel what we have toady is a marketing of god through the medium of temples and the corrupt practices will come up once again, if government's autocratic control is removed.