PRAYAGRAJ: A significant meeting was held at the VHP camp on the Maha Kumbh Mela campus on Friday, where prominent saints and seers gathered to discuss issues concerning the Hindu community. The meeting, part of the Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal, continued the call to lift government control over Hindu temples across the country.
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avdheshanand Giri, advocating for the cause, highlighted the vast amount of donations—Rs 1.86 lakh crore—from temples currently directed into government coffers, underscoring the need for temples to be free from state control.
Rising Concerns Among the Saints
The seers expressed concerns over the declining birth rate among Hindus, stressing the importance of larger families. A senior VHP functionary stated, “It is imperative that every Hindu family has at least three children to maintain the population balance.”
In addition to their focus on demographics, the seers have launched a nationwide awareness campaign to advocate for the autonomy of Hindu temples. The call for freeing temples from government oversight was recently issued during a Bada Sabha in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Support for Legislative Measures
The seers welcomed the Union government’s proposed waqf law aimed at regulating the powers of the Waqf Board, urging unanimous support from MPs for its passage. Furthermore, the seers reaffirmed their commitment, first voiced at the 1984 Dharma Sansad, to secure control over the key temples of Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi.
Addressing Religious Persecution and Social Issues
The VHP also voiced concerns about the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, criticizing the silence of candle march groups in the face of such attacks. They emphasized their commitment to protecting Hindu minorities and restoring religious sites to Hindus where historical evidence of temples has been found.
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