Move to take over Padmanabhaswamy Temple; A well crafted conspiracy: Kummanam

Thiruvananthapuram: Hindu AIkya Vedi general secretary Kummanam Rajashekharan has lashed out at the state government for issuing the affidavit staking claim on SreePadmanabha Swamy Temple, stating that it is gross insult to the entire Hindu community. Calling for sweeping democratic reforms in temples, he said that the government’s move is nothing but conspiracy. Kummanam was addressing the audience at Gandhi Park, in lieu of the ‘Kshetra Samrakshana Sammelanam’, in the state capital.

“The move to take over SreePadmanabha Swamy Temple is not an isolated incident. It is part of a well planned conspiracy, hatched by a group that controls the financial processes of the state and to whose tunes, our administrators dance. For them, the belief system, sentiments and consecrations of Hindus do not stand important. The administrators must understand that the dreams of all devotees who work hard to take the temple to the pinnacle of its glory are precious. There should be democratic reforms in the temple’s administrative set up,” he said, delivering the keynote address.

Reiterating the harmony that prevails in Hindu society, Kummanam Rajashekharan pointed out that there was no difference of opinion among Hindus regarding SreePadmanabha Swamy Temple. “When you look back, there was a wrangle between Thrikkunnathu Seminary and Kadamattom. Even Section 144 was declared. Under such circumstances, why wasn’t the government taking interest in taking over the property? There are 108 churches that have closed down, following the issue. There have been mosques, on which 144 has been declared. The government that has no inclination in taking over places of worship belonging to other religious communities shows a desperate need to take over Hindu temples.”

Asserting that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should withdraw the affidavit, if they had a sense of commitment towards those Hindus who had cast a vote in their favour, Kummanam Rajashekharan called for sweeping temple reforms. “At this time, when it is the 90th anniversary of Vaikom Sathyagraha, it is time to gear up for a new mass protest, when Hindus have to reiterate that the right to administer temples is their birth right. Today, politics is such that people hitherto never seen in temples are rushing to be part of temple administration. But this has to change. There is no doubt that Hindus are facing extreme discrimination since ages and the best example for the same is the bitter truth that till date, a single commission associated with a Hindu issue has never seen light. The reason for this is that authorities are underestimating the might of Hindus. But episodes like the remonstration at Nilakkal, Marad and Aranmula have proved beyond doubt that Hindus are formidable. In the case of SreePadmanabha Swamy Temple too Hindus must prove the same. There should be an end to the present attitude of servitude, where the mantra is “offerings are yours and administration is ours”.

Declaring that Hindus would never secure justice from Kerala government, he said that the Union ministry was most welcome to involve in matters of temple governance in the state of Kerala. “The state government should remember, those who question the beliefs, consecrations and sentiments of Hindu society must pay dearly for their misdeeds,” he added. 

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