Call for the establishment of the Sanatan Board and more state control over temples
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A major religious gathering, Dharma Sansad, held on the sidelines of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, has stirred significant controversy. The January 27 event, attended by over 5,000 Hindu religious leaders, saints, and devotees, saw heated discussions and a series of provocative demands, including controversial statements against Muslims and the Waqf Board.
One of the key demands from the Dharma Sansad was the establishment of a Sanatan Board, with religious leader Jagadguru Vidya Bhaskar urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish the Places of Worship Act. He called for the law that preserves religious sites in their pre-1947 condition to be repealed, stating, “We are sending a demand letter to the government. Our slogan is: ‘Sambhal, Mathura, Vishwanath, we will take all three together.’”
A particularly inflammatory statement came from Devkinandan Thakur, a prominent religious figure, who voiced strong objections to the Waqf Board’s involvement in religious matters. He claimed that the Waqf Board had laid claim to the Kumbh site, asserting, “First of all, the Waqf Board declared the Kumbh site as its land. We are afraid that the Waqf Board may say that the whole of India belongs to them. If this happens, where will Hindus go? We can only find refuge in India.”
Thakur further argued that there is no Hindu Board in Pakistan and Bangladesh, questioning the need for a Waqf Board in India. His comments drew backlash for invoking fear and tension between communities. In his speech, Thakur went on to say that the establishment of the Sanatan Board would free temples from government control, enabling them to establish cow shelters and fund educational institutions.
Thakur’s speech has also gone viral on social media, where a part of it appeared to provoke Muslims. In the video, he is heard stating, “You were giving us a 15-minute challenge, brother dear, fulfill this wish and see, only Naga Sadhu is enough, there will be no need for the military. Give 15 minutes to Naga Sadhu, he will perform Amrit Pardan in 15 minutes.” These remarks have been widely condemned for inciting violence and hatred.
Along with the call for a Sanatan Board, the Dharma Sansad also passed a resolution demanding that temples across the country be freed from government control. Another key proposal was to provide financial assistance to impoverished Hindu families in a bid to curb religious conversion. Jagadguru Raghav Acharya emphasised that the Sanatan Board should not be a government institution, stressing, “If this board becomes a government institution, it will not be of any use. This board should include Acharyas who will ensure the protection and promotion of Sanatan Dharma.”
Chinmyanand Baba, another religious leader, expressed his concerns about the Waqf Board’s activities, claiming that a conspiracy had been hatched during the partition of India, enabling Muslims to acquire properties. “Now is the time to establish a strong institution to protect Sanatan Dharma,” he said, echoing the sentiments of other participants.
The resolutions passed at the Dharma Sansad also included proposals for financial support to Hindu families to prevent religious conversion, the establishment of cow shelters at temples, and the strengthening of institutions that would protect Hindu religious practices. However, the inflammatory rhetoric, particularly towards Muslims, has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters, leading to concerns about the growing divide between communities.
The demands put forward during the Dharma Sansad have reignited debates about the relationship between religion and politics in India, with many questioning the implications of such proposals on the country’s secular fabric.
