Dharma Sansad urges Centre to set up Dharmic Council

Tirupati, Mar 4 (UNI) The Dharma Sansad today urged the central government to set up an independent Dharmic Council to administer the temples and mutts in the country.

Addressing newspersons here, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Ashok Singhal said the highest decision making body, Dharma Sansad in their two-day meeting had passed a resolution to call upon the central government as well as the Andhra Pradesh government to enact a law making the provision for making Dharmic Councils in the states.

The mutt heads and acharyas at the Sansad alleged that state governments, especially, Andhra Pradesh, are bringing under their control temples and trusts, which are places of veneration and worship for Hindus.

Mr Singhal said the Hindu dharmic institutions, expecially those in the southern states have been discriminated against and subjected to rigorous control and interference by the governments, resulting in deterioration of temple administration.

He alleged that 15,000 temples had perished in Karnataka, 34,000 in Andhra Pradesh, 35,000 in Tamil Nadu and more than one lakh in Kerala are in bad condition due to government inteference.

Mr Singhal said also demanded the central government to bring alegislation against conversions.

He said Christians are getting money from outside to carry out conversions in the rural areas.

The Dharma Sansad was attended by prominent mutt heads, acharyas, sadhus and sants.

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