Kerala: Allegations of Mismanagement Taint Governing of Hindu Temples

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition to appoint a broad-based committee instead of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore to manage the temple. The petition alleges large-scale mismanagement and possible theft of gold ornaments over the years.

Simultaneously, the court is hearing a petition by Subramanian Swamy and TG Mohandas, seeking to wind up the five Devaswoms and end state control of Hindu temples. Christian and Muslim religious places were exempted from state control by British colonialists in the early 20th century following protests by the two communities. One of the provisions of the laws governing the Devaswoms requires an MLA — even a non-Hindu — to be a member of the committee. The petitioners contend that non-Hindu lawmakers often end up on the panel, jeopardising the interests of the Hindus.

Most of Kerala’s temples were owned by kings or royal families. After Independence, most of them came under the management of Devaswoms. The first government in Kerala led by Marxist leader EMS Namboodiripad and the one thereafter headed by Achutha Menon passed the Land Reform Act, which handed over thousands of acres of temple property to the cultivators, leaving the temples with little or no source of income. They were all subsequently brought under the control of the autonomous bodies.

Rahul Easwar, president of the Ayappa Dharma Sena, alleges that both the Congress and the CPI(M), which have alternated in power, packed the Devaswoms with their appointees of select castes with an eye on their vote banks.

Media reports have frequently highlighted allegations of mismanagement in the Devaswom, mostly to the effect that the assets have never been verified or inspected.

Source: The Federal

Hindu Man Arrested for anti-Islam Facebook Post through Hacked Account in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, a Hindu man's Facebook account was hacked and a post was made against Prophet Muhamed which angered local Muslim population. 

The man was arrested by the police. While the man was in police custody, the Muslims gathered as a mob and started attacking the police in an attempt to overpower them and kill the man. The police had to fire at the mob in self-defense and at least 4 people were killed. 

The police has also detained three people for hacking the Hindu man's Facebook account.

The violence was second such incident since 2016 in the Muslim-majority country when protesters attacked Hindu temples in eastern Brahmanbaria town after a blasphemous Facebook post.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/4-killed-50-injured-as-protesters-clash-with-police-over-blasphemous-facebook-post-in-bangladesh/article29751887.ece

Hindu Man Beaten Up for chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’

In another shocking incident that has come to light, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker Ranjit Mondol was injured after being beaten up by fellow TMC worker for chanting Jai Shree Ram. The brutal incident took place in Barishat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, reported ANI.

According to the complaint filed by Ranjit Mondol, he was having a conversation with fellow party workers and in the process of the conversation he chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’. At this point that another TMC party worker called Paroi got furious and thrashed him.

'Jai Shree Ram', ordinarily a chant praising Lord Ram, has also turned into a chant of political defiance in West Bengal. There are several times in the past when Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee got irked because people chanted Jai Shree Ram as a mark of political defiance against her.

https://www.opindia.com/2019/10/west-bengal-tmc-worker-injured-after-being-beaten-up-by-fellow-worker-for-chanting-jai-shree-ram/

Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari Murdered Inside House

Kamlesh Tiwari, Working president of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) was murdered inside his house in Lucknow on Friday.

He was shot dead and also his throat was slit. His attackers came in Saffron clothes pretending to be Hindus. 

Inspector General, Lucknow Range, SK Bhagat said, assailants were known to Tiwari because they stayed with him in the house for around half an hour. Police have recovered a pistol and a empty cartridge from the house. He said injury marks were found around Tiwari’s neck.

In 2015, Tiwari made headlines when he allegedly made objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad, which had created huge uproar and resulted in massive protests by Muslims across the country. He had also posted inflammatory comments on Facebook while reacting to protests by Muslims on his statement.

Tiwari was one of the appellants in the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya title suit case.

A native of Sitapur, Tiwari had also contested 2012 assembly election from Central Lucknow on the ticket of ABHM and lost.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/hindu-mahasabha-leader-kamlesh-tiwari-shot-at-in-lucknow-critical-6075961/

Boy Dies after opposing forceful conversion to Christianity in Tripura

15-year-old student dies after he is brutally tortured by hostel warden for opposing forceful conversion to Christianity.

Last year, a teenaged tribal girl student had also committed suicide in the hostel following pressure from the warden and fathers of the school to convert her and the entire family into Christianity.

https://www.opindia.com/2019/10/happy-debbarma-tripura-forceful-conversion-tortured/

Fire at Ancient Hindu Temple in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

A large fire consumed the ancient temple of Matlora in Mandi’s Seraj assembly segment on Saturday night, sources said.

Although details of the incident are still sketchy, sources said the fire began at midnight at the temple that is located in the remote Juhu village. The temple’s wooden structure fed the flames.

Fire brigade found that the area was difficult to access, sources said.

The cause of the fire is yet unknown. The surging flame is estimated to have caused losses estimated to be in lakhs worth of gold, silver and the temple’s antique deity, as well as cash. 

Details: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/himachal-fire-destroys-ancient-temple-in-mandi-s-seraj/832976.html

Andhra Pradesh reserves 50% of posts in temple boards on Caste basis

The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday issued an order providing 50% reservations in all temple committees and endowment institutions to members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Class communities, Hindustan Times reported. Women have also been given 50% reservation in the temple committees.

This is the first time the government has provided reservations in Hindu religious bodies on the basis of caste and gender, reports said.

“We don’t mind people from all sections of the society in the temple trust boards and committees,” said Temples Protection Committee Convener C Ranga Rajan. “What we object to is the appointment of people from weaker sections having faith in other religions.” Rajan also recommended that politicians, businessmen and celebrities should not be included in the committees as those who “really serve god should be appointed”.

Details:

https://scroll.in/latest/937278/andhra-pradesh-reserves-50-of-posts-in-temple-boards-for-backward-classes-scs-sts-and-women