Pranav Birje | The News Bulletins
The Central Government has informed the Honorable Supreme Court that it is not in favor of government control over temples. It clarified that it has already presented its interpretation of constitutional provisions that enable states to manage the secular activities of religious institutions. Welcoming this, former MP Gopal Shetty stated that he had already written a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 9, 2019, regarding the liberation of South Indian temples from the arbitrariness of certain government officials and the control of temple funds by political individuals for their own interests. He had urged the Center to closely examine the matter and take appropriate steps.
Throughout his political career, Gopal Shetty has never attempted to gain political advantage by instigating Hindu-Muslim debates. However, at the same time, he has never stepped back from strengthening and illuminating the dignity of Sanatana Dharma.
Dedicated to the mainstream of Hindutva, whenever he witnessed physical, mental, or financial attacks on Sanatanis, he did not hesitate to resist. In view of this, he reached out to the Prime Minister to formulate a policy and find a suitable solution, which subsequently intensified the debate on temple management, government interference, and the autonomy of Sanatana institutions.
In his letter, Gopal Shetty explicitly stated that the decision regarding the utilization of temple funds should be made by the temples themselves and must be used solely for Hindu purposes. He emphasized that the management of Hindu temples should be handled by Hindus, rather than by politicians who are anti-Hindu in their attitude and conduct and seek to exploit temples for vote-bank politics.
He further suggested that once temples are freed from the clutches of corrupt officials, they should be managed by individuals who are well-versed in Hindu scriptures and are also efficient administrators. He requested that directions be given to start schools and colleges using temple donations, managed through trusts on a self-financing basis. He believes that Sanatanis will benefit only if temple funds are used specifically for the underprivileged sections of society.
Additionally, he suggested that since organizations like the Ramakrishna Mission and Chinmaya Mission have expertise in running such educational institutions, they could be requested to appoint appropriate administrative staff to manage them based on Hindu principles. He also proposed that temples should establish Sanskrit colleges and Veda Pathshalas, and support research activities, scriptures, and books containing scientific knowledge to further the Hindu cause—something he feels is currently lacking.
Concluding his letter, Gopal Shetty wrote that the Hindu community deserves to live with a sense of belonging and pride, which has been eroded by the “fake secularism” adopted by dynastic parties. Therefore, he humbly requested the Prime Minister to consider these suggestions and take the necessary steps to free temples from the grip of government officials and political figures.