VHP accused the Congress government of exploiting its custodianship of temple lands, saying that the state is merely a caretaker, not the owner, a principle repeatedly upheld by courts. Highlighting the misuse of the 1987 Act, the organization alleged that temple properties have been unlawfully converted into government assets and sold to private individuals.
Citing examples of encroachments, including the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road project that consumed thousands of acres of temple land, the VHP criticised the secular governments for their neglect and commercialization of temple assets. The VHP further pointed to the government’s failure to maintain the cowshed at the Vemulawada temple, despite it being donated by devotees.
The VHP in its press release, lambasted the state government for allocating no budget to temples while imposing a 15 per % on temple income. With increasing incidents of land encroachments and desecrations, the VHP called for urgent action to safeguard temple properties. The VHP has put forward a set of demands to the state government such as immediate withdrawal of the solar plant proposal, a white paper on the status of all temple properties, Publication of the Justice A Venkataramireddy Commission report, Reclamation of all temple lands, Retrieval of temple lands currently under the control of government departments. Removal of unauthorized non-Hindu structures from temple lands.
The VHP has announced that it will launch statewide protests if the government fails to address these issues promptly. Dr Shashidhar said, “The Congress party has a long history of exploiting wealth rather than generating it, particularly targeting Hindu religious places. Once they set up solar panels on temple lands, it’s only a matter of time before some Congress leader declares these properties as government assets or sells them to private entities under some pretext. Yet, they remain silent on Wakf and Church lands. This blatant targeting of Hindus must stop. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the solar plant proposal.”
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