Kumar questioned why different religions in India have separate laws regarding religious donations. He pointed out that when Muslims donate land for religious purposes, it becomes Waqf property under the Waqf Act. However, there is no similar law governing donations made by Hindus, Christians, or Sikhs to their places of worship.
Mahakumbh Nagar: Alok Kumar, the International President of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), urged the central government to introduce a common law for religious donations across all faiths. He raised this demand during a three-day VHP meeting held in Mahakumbh Nagar.
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Kumar questioned why different religions in India have separate laws regarding religious donations. He pointed out that when Muslims donate land for religious purposes, it becomes Waqf property under the Waqf Act. However, there is no similar law governing donations made by Hindus, Christians, or Sikhs to their places of worship.
“When Muslims donate land to Allah, it becomes Waqf property. But what happens when Hindus donate to temples, Christians to churches, or Sikhs to gurdwaras? Why are there different laws for different religions?”
he asked.
Referring to the Waqf Act of 1954, he recalled that two Congress Rajya Sabha members had questioned the then Law Minister about having a separate law for Muslims.
“The minister had said he was considering a common law for all. Now the time has come for the government to implement such a law,”
Kumar stated.
Kumar also addressed the issue of Hindu temples in Kashi and Mathura, stating that the VHP is committed to taking all legal and constitutional measures to reclaim these sites.
“We have assured the Hindu community that we will take all constitutional steps to regain these temples,”
he said.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the issue of freeing Hindu temples from government control. Kumar highlighted that many temples across different states have been under state administration for the past 208 years. According to him, government laws mandate that 12% of temple revenue be deposited as administrative expenses.
Kumar cited an example from Andhra Pradesh, where a massive gathering in Vijayawada saw “2.5 lakh people” demanding temple freedom. He announced that similar large-scale gatherings would be held in North and South India in the coming months.
“We will meet the chief ministers and legislators of different states to submit memorandums on this issue,” he added.
He emphasized that temple administration should be in the hands of devotees, ensuring representation from all sections of society, including Scheduled Castes and women.
Kumar also claimed that if temples were freed from government control, they could generate additional revenue worth Rs 1 lakh crore. This amount could be utilized for welfare initiatives for Hindus, including healthcare, religious education, and temple maintenance.
Speaking on the issue of Waqf properties, Kumar expressed satisfaction with the recent steps taken by the government. He mentioned that the VHP had submitted recommendations to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill. Specifically, the organization suggested that Waqf claims should not be applicable to Scheduled Tribal areas.
“The JPC has considered our suggestion and recommended it,” he said.
Addressing calls from certain groups to declare India a ‘Hindu Rashtra,’ Kumar clarified that such a declaration was unnecessary.
“There is no need for such a declaration as India is already a Hindu Rashtra. We do not seek a state with an explicitly religious constitution,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various parts of India and abroad, including countries like the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Mauritius, South Africa, France, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Guyana.
Prominent RSS leaders such as Dattatreya Hosabale and Bhaiyaji Joshi were present, along with religious figures like Swami Paramanand and Buddhist scholar Lama Chosphel Zotpa.
