HYDERABAD, Dec 28: The Telangana unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) formally expressed opposition on Saturday to the state government’s proposal to establish solar power plants on temple land.
In its statement, the VHP claimed that this initiative serves as a cover for the unauthorized acquisition of temple land under the pretext of promoting renewable energy.
The organization urged the government to retract this proposal immediately, asserting that it represents yet another attempt to privatize temple assets.
The VHP emphasized that the government is supposed to act as a caretaker of temple land, not its proprietor, a point consistently supported by judicial rulings. Nevertheless, secular administrations have repeatedly abused their authority to manipulate temple management, resulting in the misappropriation and decline of temple properties valued in the billions.
The VHP accused the government of exploiting the 1987 Act to reclassify temple properties as government assets and subsequently embroiling large areas of this land for sale to private entities.
Furthermore, the government has encroached on temple premises for its projects, particularly noted in the land acquisitions for the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road that have involved thousands of acres.
The organization criticized the government for not allocating any budget to temples while imposing a 15 percent tax on temple revenues.
They stated that the government has neglected the safeguarding of temple assets, contributing to a rise in desecration incidents. The VHP cited the case of the Vemulawada temple, where government neglect led to the disrepair of a cowshed donated by its devotees.
The VHP pointed out the troubling circumstances surrounding temple lands in Telangana, which encompass roughly 2.5 lakh acres across 9608 temples.
Citing numerous examples of temple land encroachment in prime areas such as Abids and Banjara Hills, the VHP reiterated its demands: the withdrawal of the solar plant proposal, the publication of a white paper detailing the status of temple properties, the public disclosure of the Justice A. Venkataramireddy Commission report, the reclamation of all encroached temple lands, the reversion of temple lands currently managed by government departments, and the removal of unauthorized religious structures from temple territories.
Should the government ignore these demands, the VHP plans to initiate a statewide protest.
Lastly, the VHP calls upon the entire Hindu community to rally for the protection of temple properties and to liberate them from governmental oversight.
(UNI)
