Mughal rule was better for temples: Saints warn BJP govt on ‘takeover’ bid

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Angered over a proposed legislation that reportedly bids for government takeover of management of temples across Madhya Pradesh, saints and priests from across state staged unique protest in Bhopal – displaying their spiritual abilities for two days.

The leader of the federation, Mahamandaleshwar Computer Baba, while talking to media on Tuesday said that the MP government was taking a stand that even Mughal rulers, Nawabs and the other kings were far more benevolent as far as temple management went.

They said that the earlier the rulers, irrespective of religion, would donate land for temples, took care of the religious structures and always ensured their proper management.

But the Madhya Pradesh government ruled by BJP that claimed to be working for Hindu welfare, was trying to usurp the natural management system of temples from the hands of priests.

Already the big temples like Mahakal temple in Ujjain is being administered by the State government and the new legislation being brought by government might take away the management of almost all the major temples, fera saints.

For two days the angry saints remained on the streets and officials tried to pacify them. The protest, organized under banner of MP Sant va Pujari Sanyukta Mahasangh, was called off on Wednesday evening.

It was after the officials assured that the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would look into the demands personally and would talk to them to resolve the issue.