Govt fails to protect Hindu temples: TN BJP President

Chennai, May 1 (UNI) Tamil Nadu BJP Vice-President H Raja today alleged that as the State Government had failed to protect Hindu temples from the target of burglars it should withdraw from the administration of temples run by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HRCE).

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Raja said in recent times, there has been a sharp increase in thefts in temples. Yet, nothing had been done to curb them. Though the fingerprints taken from Kapaleeswarar temple im Mylapore and Kachapeshwarar temple in Kanchipuram were similar those involved in the theft had not been arrested so far, he added.

Alleging that over 70 temple cows had died due to starvation, the BJP leader demnded that the HRCE department be handed over to an autonomous body comprising philanthropists, Tamil scholars and religious leaders.

Mr Raja said if Tamil speaking Christians and Muslims were allowed to celebrate their own New Year, it was sad to see that the Tamil speaking Hindus were not permitted to celebrate Tamil New Year.

On Union Minister T R Baalu's issue, Mr Raja said that the Centre had misused its power and this had been proved. He should own up the responsibility and resign. ''If he does not, the Prime Minister should dismiss him,'' he added.

With regard to price rice, the BJP leader said there was no coordination between Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and this has made the situation worse. The Centre should have taken steps at the right time to avoid price rise, he said.

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