Control of temples in Uttarakhand
The buck stops with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the controversial decision of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Uttarakhand Government in taking over 51 temples including the iconic Kedarnath and Badrinath temples. We know that the Kedarnath Temple is close to his heart and he as Prime Minister has visited it several times. So a Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Trivendra Singh Rawat, a novice in BJP would not dare to pass a controversial Char Dham Devasthanam Act to take over 51 temples including Kedarnath without the PM’s blessing.
Why the takeover now?
This takeover of temples in Uttarakhand does not make sense. BJP as a party has always propagated that Temples should be administered by devotees and now is shown duplicity in the state of Uttarakhand.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders have expressed objection to the Uttarakhand Government’s move and even Congress leaders have declared that whenever they come to power, they will quash this Act.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has challenged the Government’s decision and the Government’s response affidavit to Swamy’s petition is ludicrous. The 21-page reply where seven pages were devoted to showing displeasure on Swamy’s tweets, did not answer the pertinent points raised by Swamy against the temple take over Act. The petition is silent on the landmark Supreme Court Judgment on Subramanian Swamy’s case against the take over of Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu[1].
On June 11, in the Uttarakhand High Court, the Central Government’s counsel also supported the State Government and the case is posted for June 22 after Swamy said that he needs a few days to counter the reply of the State Government. Uttarakhand claimed that the natural calamities of 2013 prompted the Government to pass the Act, which enables the Chief Minister to be the head of the Devasthanam and an IAS officer as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board. The CM becoming the head of the Temple Board is atrocious. The Act further says, if the Chief Minister is not a Hindu, then the senior-most Minister from the Hindu community will head the board. How can such laws be enacted? Uttarakhand is a state where BJP and Congress come to power on a rotation basis. So what will BJP have to say when Congress Chief Minister or another Senior Minister becomes the head of temple boards?
Many right-wingers and BJP leaders make a hue and cry on the intervention of non-BJP Governments in temple administration. But the same ilk is keeping quiet on the Uttarakhand taking over temples by an Act. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders have expressed objection to the Uttarakhand Government’s move and even Congress leaders have declared that whenever they come to power, they will quash this Act.
Prime Minister Modi on June 10 had a meeting with the Chief Minister on the “re-construction” of Kedarnath Temple. It is good to know that the State wants to help or facilitate temple construction or give clearances in a speedy manner. But why take control of the temple? Some in the BJP say this was to create a good administration of Char Dham Yatra. Let Government help the millions attending Char Dham Yatra by giving good infrastructure like good roads and lodging, but it is unethical to intervene in the administration of temples by Government.
All Modi did was after the Judgment on November 9, 2019, he addressed the country and gave goody-goody talks on television.
Volte face on Temple Control in Gujarat
As Gujarat Chief Minister also Modi invited wrath for trying to intervene in temple administration and then withdrew the Act regarding this[2]. Ramesh Swamy, a Hindutva warrior, and a technocrat has written a detailed article on this. Modi’s delays in declaring Rama Setu as a National Monument has also not gone down well with many Hindu believers. The entire case was fought and won by Subramanian Swamy challenging the mighty Congress regime. Still, the file is pending in Prime Minister Modi’s temple. Why the delay? Modi has a lot to answer when it comes to core Hindutva issues.
Ram Mandir
Till 2017, he did nothing on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir case and kept the so-called “strategic silence”. It was Subramanian Swamy’s intervention in the Supreme Court to ask to pray at the Mandir as a fundamental right that caused the case to speed up. All Modi did was after the Judgment on November 9, 2019, he addressed the country and gave goody-goody talks on television. In between, during an election rally for the Gujarat Assembly Elections in 2018, he criticised Congress lawyer Kapil Sibal for trying to delay construction of the Ram Mandir. So Mr. Modi, what did you do to speed up the case?
Some of Modi’s earlier comments like “first bathroom, then temple” comments are highly reprehensible. Secularism is embedded in Hindutva. It has been this way for thousands of years and will continue to be in the future. After all Sanatana Dharma means the Eternal Flow. It is the Hindutva upsurge that made you the Prime Minister in 2014 and it again made you the PM with a bigger mandate in 2019. So Mr. Narendra Modi, in the Uttarakhand temple takeover issue, you are crossing the limit. You must rectify it.
References:
[1] Uttarkhan’s 51 temple takeover case: BJP Govt. objects to Subramanian Swamy’s petition – Jun 11, 2020, PGurus.com
[2] Religious leaders greet CM for the decision of abrogating Gujarat Public Trust Act – NarendraModi.in
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Every year’s much-awaited Char Dham Yatra also got affected due to the pandemic. Hope for a fast recovery & revival of Uttarakhand tourism.
How can government/constitution be considered secular when state directly heading and administering religious places? Declare India a Hindu Rashtra in such a case and then government can feel free to head these places.
We Hindus (well, at least those of us who still call ourselves Hindus) are to blame. Modi is a politician and a politician who has tasted power at that. Despite all the shortcomings of his administration, he enjoys the support of a huge electoral base. He will do something for us only when we vote as Hindus. I don’t live in Uttarkhand, but I will be very surprised if an average BJP voter reverses his/her vote because of this issue. This is true all over India – both in state and center elections. So, until the day dawns when we Hindus punish a candidate (irrespective of party) for taking an stance against our interests as Hindus, we will always remain dhimmies. I will also predict – for gratis – that the day will never dawn. For, we have been divided systematically and brutally since 1947.
I am a senior citizen of India without any political affiliation or inclination. However, keeping in mind the present environment and circumstances, and not having any suitable alternative, I consider BJP as the right party to be in power until we find any other alternative. Recently (October 2019), I visited the Chardham. Out of the four, my experience in Yamunotri, Gourikund, and Kedarnath Dham was horrible and out of these, the Kedarnath Dham was the worst. The Helicopter service, the Pujakas, and other service providers were rude, unfriendly, and exploitive. I am not sure, under Govt control the attitude of people around will improve. The politicians and bureaucrats are the worst kinds of people to be entrusted with the control of places of Hindu worship. The politicians will always have the vote bank and minority appeasement in their mind while taking any decision. They are least interested for any Hindu cause. The bureaucrats, by their upbringing and training, are natural anti-Hinus (barring very few exceptions because of family culture).
Therefore, in my opinion, if organizations like Hindu Mahasava, RSS, Chinmaya mission, Ramakrishna Mission etc.are entrusted with the control of these temples, the services may improve for the better.
I think it is worth trying.
Modi and his bunch are closet secularists. Hindutva comes alive during elections only. A leader is measured not by his/her rhetoric or catchy phrases but by their conviction, courage and ability to deliver. Modi and team fail on all counts. They are tentative on many issues but are remarkably diffident on Hindutva . Why? What is he afraid of? Hopeless.
Pm always talks about minimim govt maximum governence. Why he is intruding into the space where pm& co is not required at all. Lawyers are fighting for liberation of temples one side, more temples he is adding further.
Who so ever is the Writer of this article,I think,you are A AntiHindu.All of you people will be At PEACE when Congress is on Power in All Infact when that happens, India will become SUPER Power of World.China will RESIGN from UNSC Seat and It will be taken by India.NO Country in world will IMPORT any Items / Service from CHINA.Any Country in world will IMPORT from INDIA only.China will VANISH from World and FULL China territory will be taken over by India.Rahul Gandhi will be PMof Full China India. Region.Even Pakistan will VANISH from World map
Mr, Vijay, What are you smoking? Just curious. Thanks
When will you realise that neither the BJP or Congress should be in power?
I guess when the country has torn asunder and is in shreds.
Maybe too late them.
As for Why did Uttarkhand Govt implement the take over?
Because during his last visit and meditation at Kedarnath ‘ The man” got a revelation from outer space to do so.
I guess you don’t even know Jr Ambani has been made a trustee of the temple.