Open Letter to Congress/ UPA Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Subject:  Legislation urgently needed to stop the irreparable damage caused  to Hindu religious infrastructure by Govt. control: AP and many states grossly misuse their powers to undermine Hinduism and suppress Hindus human rights of religious freedom.

Hon'ble Members of Parliament of the
Indian National Congress, and the
United Progressive Alliance

Flagrantly trampling upon the very basic principles of secularism requiring separation of state and religion - a worldwide norm in all democratic and open societies, the Hindu temples and endowments by and large have been placed under the Govt. control in Andhra Pradesh and many parts of India with the promise and premise of an open, transparent and an efficient management. But alas, the Govt. performance fundamentally defies that claim.  As typified by Andhra Pradesh government's indiscriminate sale of endowment lands, meant for temple sustenance in perpetuity, siphoning off the temple revenues, commercialization of TTD and diversion of its revenues meant for Hindu religious purposes - such actions against Hindu interests are resulting in the demolition of the religious infrastructure. This gross abuse and misapplication of state powers and the arbitrary management, in varying degrees across India, makes it imperative to bring this important issue before the national Parliament and passage of an updated law restoring complete autonomy of Hindu religious institutions in the country. Many global religious organizations have already proclaimed these adverse developments in India as “national emergency of Hindus”.

 Lately the Andhra Pradesh Govt., in continuation of its deliberate crusade against the Hindu religious establishments, has decided to auction the remaining 50% i.e. 3,000 acres of temple endowment lands in East Godavari district on a war footing (attachment A). Further, against the strong opposition and wishes of the Hindu community  the AP government wants: to a)  take away Rs 500 crores from TTD (Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanam) supposedly for irrigation projects on top of the Rs.1,500 crores it already owes them; b) build a ropeway at TTD to turn the sacred shrine into a tourist attraction, commercializing and desecrating the deeply revered shrine and vitiating its religious sanctity; and c) takeover the 500 year old Chilkur Balaji temple so efficiently run by the pujaris and locals (attachment B). These highly provocative, unsettling and expeditious measures amongst others are being taken without any public debate or the approval of the Hindu community.

The imminent crash sale of the above mentioned lands, that have been owned by temples  for decades and perhaps centuries, on a war footing makes the intent of the decision highly questionable and even suspicious. An inference can be drawn that the authorities are trying to cover their incompetence in managing or corruption in keeping the lands from illegal occupation, or disposing them off for political and/or financial motivations, or they are driven by an anti- Hindu bias to encourage the opposition to Hindu faith. Under these circumstances this call is being made for not only stopping forthwith the current sale but also for rescinding the previous sale of half of the lands in East Godavari district.
 
AP has perhaps the largest ministry composed of 77,000 plus bureaucrats supposedly to manage some 33,000 temples. There persist allegations that the Govt. siphons away 85% of temple revenues to the state exchequer for the running the ministry etc., leaving pujaris without any means to perform their religious duties and/or to starve. Additionally, the state is responsible for the unforgivable destruction of the centuries old historic thousand pillar Mandapam at the TTD. It has also been brought to the attention of the general public that the Govt. has failed to reimburse some Rs. 28 crores to the endowments department for lands it acquired to build Police stations, bus stands, etc.  In deed the record of the state is treacherously anti- Hindu with ultimate objective of destroying the Hindu religious infrastructure (attachment B). The management of temples is non- transparent and not open to public inspection. And for fear of backlash, the state purposely keeps the community in the dark.

In Karnataka, the government has set new standards of lawlessness by taxing the temples and without any justifiable legal authority simply diverting their funds to enhance the Muslim run Madrassas and Christian run churches - both being the adversarial religions against Hinduism (attachment C). In the year 2002-03 out of temple revenues of Rs. 79 crores, Rs. 59.15 crores were allocated to Madrasas and subsidizing the Hajj pilgrimage to Muslims, Rs. 12.75 crores to Christian institutions and a mere Rs. 7.1 crores for the maintenance of over 248,000 temples. This way the Indian state has become an active participant in promoting adversarial religions at the cost of Hinduism. It may be recalled that this seem to be the updated version of the same policy that Muslim rulers used for replacing Hinduism with Islam without any concern about the means and methods used for achieving that goal..

As law makers please note that the Indian states have seriously violated the constitution by: a) by denying Hindus  their fundamental “Religious Rights’ guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution ( which guarantee to public  the establishment and maintenance of religious institutions; to own and acquire movable and immovable property;  and to administer such property in accordance with law); and, b) by  gross misuse and abuse of state powers under Concurrent List (Article 246 (2) , Seventh Schedule, List 3 - item 28) on religious institutions by unwarranted acquisition of temples and squarely discriminating against Hindu religious institutions.
 
Further the Indian Parliament through an Act in 1991 specifically legislated that –“the status of religious places, as on August 15, 1947 shall be retained".  A faithful implementation of these laws will require removal of unconstitutional govt. control upon Hindu temples. Their jurisdiction must be transferred to an autonomous, accountable and transparent Hindu Board.

Hon'ble Legislators, the state authorities seem oblivious that under the provisions of the Indian constitution, controlling, discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely and fully out side the parameters of government jurisdiction. Why not allow an autonomous Hindu board 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!
 
It is baffling how Andhra Pradesh and other State legislatures could pass laws which are violative of the Constitution and also against the accepted norms in all free and democratic societies. Most importantly such unconstitutional strategy is applied discriminatively only to Hindu temples, which amounts to suppression of Hindus human rights of religious freedom. As proven by their injurious governance, the legislatures may have passed the measure to takeover temples on the basis of misinformed and biased voting or for political, financial and anti- Hindu interests in endowments. Our contention is corroborated by the passage of a Bill in AP Assembly for religion based reservation for the Muslims. Thankfully that law was rightly declared unconstitutional and therefore, overturned by the Supreme Court.
 
Hon'ble National Leaders, the Govt. takeover of temples is causing effective de- Hinduisation of the temples. Such a system sacrifices Hinduism for Govt. profiteering. The temples are not just for rituals by purohits but also the centre of community's socio-cultural life, a place of learning with Acharyas, for community sewa, dharma prachar and for character building. The grandeur of Hinduism - its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana,  Mahabharata, the Bhagwad Geeta - its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values that the community would like to project and propagate can only be accomplished under a devoted Hindu religious governance, without interference by the state. 
 
The fury in the Islamic world over Prophet Mohammed's cartoons should serve as a serious warning against desecration and decimation of Hindu institutions and against offensive yet illegal acts like selling of endowment lands meant for temples sustenance in perpetuity. Denial to majority the  freedom for managing its places of religious worship and continuing intrusion and imposition of  governmental dictates in an otherwise  autonomous domain, will justify the charge against the state of being anti- Hindu and anti-national for shackling and debilitating Hinduism -a faith that is the single most important unifying factor in India's body politic.

Hon'ble National Leaders, for rectifying these historic blunders, may we suggest that 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 temples and other religious places by a Hindu body. Such an approach among other things could make the Board  completely autonomous and thereby responsible and accountable for the entire administration including planning, executing,  auditing, guiding, investigating and taking corrective steps on any allegations and or complaints as and when needed. 

It is highly unsettling that the Congress/ UPA leaders remain silent and unconcerned, while the Hindu religious infrastructure is systematically demolished by Andhra Pradesh and other states, leading to suspicion of their silent approval. It is hard to see why a very basic, even a non- controversial issue of autonomy of temples, affecting deep religious sentiments and cultural survival of the majority is ignored, while the UPA is going overboard in appeasing some of the minorities.

The framers of the Indian Constitution had included temples in the Concurrent List so the governments would promote local and regional cultural activities. But alas, the states have belied their expectations. With such a track record of illegal takeovers and gross mismanagement of temples and endowments by states, Hindu religious institutions must be protected by law. This may be done by:  a) amending Article 246 (2) with a mandate for autonomy of Hindu religious institutions and non- interference by the state, or b) taking religious institutions out of the concurrent list; or c) adopting a special Act for restoring autonomy of Hindu religious institutions thereby reasserting the original intent of the Constitution. If an Act could be passed in 1991 for safeguarding minority places of worship, there is no reason why the same could not be done for Hindu temples and their estates.

Hon'ble National Leaders and Legislators, it is a matter of national shame that India boasting to be the largest secular democracy, and aspiring to be a member of the UN Security Council, deprives its own majority community the human right of religious freedom. In view of the serious damage to Hindu religious infrastructure, may we request that this issue be raised in the Parliament and the Indian states be directed, if necessary through an Act to : a) freeze all sales of endowment properties and lands and to rescind the earlier sales in all states;  b) stop diversion of TTD revenues and resources for non- religious purposes and for commercialization of the shrine; c)  denationalize temples and ensure future autonomy of all Hindu institutions in AP as well as other states, as is the practice in other religious institutions; d) promote  formation of a Hindu Board to oversee temples management; and, e) co-opt a Hindu Council , nominated by Hindu organizations like Dharma Sansad and Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha for overseeing and  guidance of endowment departments till denationalization is realized.

Thanking for your time and requesting for your immediate intervention
 
Sincerely,
 
 Dr. Jagan Kaul                                      
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum
April 02, 2006
Note: a similar letter was sent to BJP/ NDA MPs

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Attachment A

Temple lands ready for sale

Deccan Chronicle
http://www.deccan.com/

Rajahmundry, March 14: The Endowments department will be going for an open auction of its lands to the tune of 3,000 acre from April to June in East Godavari district to safeguard temple lands and improve its sources of revenue. Addressing a meeting of officials here on Tuesday,  Endowments assistant commissioner B. Venkatasw-amy said that they had auctioned 50 per cent temple lands in the district, raising revenue to the tune of Rs 2 crore, based on the Supreme Court's judgment with regard to the Tenancy Act especially for the State.

He directed the temple officials to make efforts on a war footing to auction the remaining 50 per cent lands in the next three months and said that they could fulfill the ideals of donors by doing so. He asked the officials to give exemption to farmers who had taken about 2.5 acre land on lease in delta areas and those who had taken five acre of land on lease in upland areas as they were landless poor. He directed them to carry out open auction of lands which did not fall under these categories.

He asked them to maintain a property register without fail.  He warned of stern action against the officials if they resort to any lapses while auctioning temple lands. Referring to the two bomb blasts at Varanasi recently, he asked executive officers to maintain strict security at temples by appointing security guards to keep round the clock vigil. He advised them to take police help to ensure safety to  devotees, especially at important temples in the district.

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Attachment B

Hindu temples' disintegration under AP Govt. Control

Under the Chief Ministership of Dr. Samuel Reddy, who seems to view the Hindu shrines through the prism of his personal faith, the pace of de- Hinduisation, desecration and demolition of Hindu religious infrastructure has accelerated.  The government in its capacity as the trustee never makes public the financial and management reports mandated under norms of trusteeship to the owners of these properties i.e. the Hindu community. Politicians and bureaucrats have come to consider the revenues and properties of temples as discretionary.

Here is a sketchy description of some of the questionable actions taken under the Govt. control of Hindu temples and religious endowments by AP state government. This account is drawn from the very infrequent media reports which without a doubt establishes the gross mismanagement of the Hindu religious estates under Govt. control and therefore, justifying their quick reversion to community  governance as an urgent demand.

A) The AP Govt. has decided to takeover the 500 year old Chilkur Balaji temple, according to a recent report, which is run efficiently and well by pujaris and locals;

B) Half of the temple lands in the East Godavari District have already been sold, while the remaining 3,000 acres are awaiting auction "on a war footing" which will make all temples in the district totally devoid of any endowment lands for sustenance.

C) The state Govt. wants to divert Rs. 90 crores of TTD funds under the pretext of building a veterinary university and a Medical college in Cuddapah;

D) Also, the Govt. intends to draw Rs. 500 crores of TTD money towards irrigation bonds. The grabbing of Rs. 500 cores is on top of the Rs. 1500 crores the state already owes to TTD. Since the current law of TTD doesn't allow the govt. to divert funds therefore, the Govt. is planning to amend that law.

E) To our knowledge the authorities are seriously considering proposals for: a) allowing the construction of a Christian church atop “Tirumala"; and, b) Against the wishes of the Hindu community, building a ropeway at Tirumala to convert the deeply religious place into a tourist hot spot. Such a conversion clearly amounts to desecration of the religious shrine which will change its very traditional character.

Any diversion of revenues, major changes in physical  structures, sale/ transfer of lands and properties e.g. the proposal for land for a Church atop Tirumala, religious practices or major projects like the "Master Plan" at TTD must take place only upon the approval by the community.

F) Mr. Dharma Reddy, the special officer, AP claims that only 10 1/3 Square miles of land belong to the Mandir and is administered by the TTD. The statement which is influenced by some religious and commercial interests is totally unacceptable to Hindus, who for sure know that the entire Seven Hills is the sacred land of Hindus. Such irresponsible claims must be put to rest by a straight forward official declaration affirming that the entire area of seven hills is sacred and it belongs to Bhagwan Venkateshwara Mandir.

G) The unforgivable and unforgettable destruction of centuries old historic Mandapam at TTD (Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanam) with official participation is a stark reminder of a deep malaise - the unwarranted government interference in Hindu places of worship. Due to the aggressive anti-Hindu policy pursued by the Govt. there is faster disintegration and de- Hinduisation of Hindu religious infrastructure in AP. To further improve their political fortunes the Naxals are unlawfully giving away the temple lands. The massive land scam in Hathiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the infamous demolition of 1000 pillar mandapam at Tirumala represent the multiple strategies for inflicting irreparable injury upon Hinduism.

H) The most indefensible and controversial issue of siphoning the temple revenues and disposing off the temple lands must not be taken so casually. Furthermore, the government of AP has yet to reimburse 28 crores of rupees to the endowment department towards the value of the temple lands illegally acquired earlier for building bus terminals, police stations, etc.

I)There also persist serious charges that 85% of temple revenues are illegally transferred to the state exchequer for funding a ministry with 77,000 bureaucrats to supposedly manage 33,000 temples while leaving many  religious activities to die and pujaris to starve.

 J) Recently, AP Govt. ensured the entry of JRG Wealth Management Limited, (an organization owned by Christians) into the decision making and procurement process of "Prasadam" materials for use in Tirupati temple. And govt. controlled temple management has also brought in a tie- up of the TTD owned Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences with a missionary hospital. Planting the members of the competing religions at the center of Hindu religious decision making adds insult to the injury. How would Christians and Muslims like it if their religious decision making was processed and formalized through Hindu hands?

K) A recent development reveals that a TTD executive officer, appointed by the state, barred hundreds of Sadhus from having a "darshan" of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati without paying the necessary fee or tax. He did not show any regard for the fact that the Sadhus, who gave up every material thing for spiritual pursuit, could not be able to pay for such a darshan? A serious question that arises here is if the Govt. should be allowed to profit from the religious belief of the people particularly those people who in the name of the very religion have shunned materialism? 

Last but not the least there is the issue of safeguarding of religious artifacts, allegedly stolen or clandestinely sold. No one seems to care or be accountable for such cultural thievery.

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Attachment C
Statement of Receipts and disbursements of revenues from Temples
Govt. of Karnataka
 Statement of Allocation of Revenue for development purposes

Revenue/Expense  From Temples

* Disbursement for minority comm. development
**  Women and child welfare programs
Note: These are approx. Figures
Source: Chief Minister's Office, Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore PH: 2225 3414 / 2225 3424

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