Letter to Shri Yeddyurappa, CM of Karnataka 

Subject: Hearty Congratulations on BJP's decisive electoral victory and your election as Chief Minister. We urge that restoration of religious freedom for Hindus, denied by the defeated Congress Govt. should receive your first priority. 

Hon'ble Chief Minister Yeddyurappa;

On behalf of the multitudes of NRIs in the U.S. and elsewhere we congratulate you on BJP's well deserved electoral victory and your elevation to the post of the Chief Ministership. It would be no news for you that numerous issues of critical importance to the majority community, who generally constitute your core constituency of support, have been overlooked by the previous administrations while the foreign owned Indian media has kept Muslim agenda on the front burner. One of such vital issues relates to religious freedom of Hindus, liberating temples from unconstitutional Govt. takeover and allowing the community to manage their religious institutions as mandated by the Constitution and allowed to other religionists. The outright violation of these rights by the Govt. has been causing deep anguish and resentment amongst a billion Hindus across the globe. 

The Karnataka High Court has upheld the obvious Constitutional mandate by striking down the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1997 terming it unconstitutional. The verdict concluded that the legislation violated Articles 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution which provided for right to equality, freedom of conscience and freedom of profession, practice and propagation of religion and also the freedom to manage the religious affairs.

It is understood that the committee appointed by the Govt. and headed by the former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Shri Rama Jois, to review the Endowment legislation, has submitted its recommendations. We believe that there is an urgent need for its review by jurists and Community leaders. Steps also need to be taken to establish a Hindu Board by the new administration. The report remains to be made public, therefore; we cannot make detailed comments on it. However, what is needed is a mechanism for the Board to consult and be guided by the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, an apex body of saints.  

1) Autonomy of temples is an urgent issue: The Karnataka state is squeezing the life out of Temples by siphoning off their revenue to promote adversarial religions – In the year 2002-2003, out of Rs 79 crores of temple revenues, Rs. 59.15 crores was given away to mosques, Madrasas, Hajj, etc., Rs. 12.75 crores was given to Christian institutions and a mere Rs.  7.1 crores were allocated to maintain over 248,000 temples. Such discrimination against Hindus and religious patronage for Muslims and Christians is highly questionable, illegal and provocative to Hindus worldwide. During the five years of the report from 1997 to 2002 some 19,000 temples closed in Karnataka  (attachment A).  

2) Professedly 'Secular' Karnataka penalizes Hinduism and patronizes Christianity at a great cost to the exchequer: By imposing Govt. control the state authorities are virtually demolishing Hindu religious infrastructure and thereby Hinduism itself. Yet they go out of the way to encourage evangelization - a case in point is Govt. providing facilities to Priest Benny Hinn, with an avowed aim of mass conversions, at the State government's Jakkur Airfield Training Ground on January 21-23, 2005. 

"In an affidavit filed in the High Court, S. Mariswamy, City Police Commissioner, had said that 10,000 policemen would be deployed on those days. This figure included two companies of the Rapid Action Force, 40 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, 1,200 officers from outside Bangalore city limits, 40 platoons of the City Armed Reserve Police and the entire Police Force of Bangalore City. There will also be 2,000 officers and men of the traffic police to manage traffic exclusively for the event" (Attachment B). This is an unrebuttable piece of evidence to establish official involvement in facilitating and promoting the conversion process by the predatory religionists. 

Yet another example of this group’s anti-Hindu crusade is shown in a pamphlet written by a team mate of the Benny Hinn Ministries. The pamphlet dared to equate idolatry with harlotry the purpose being to malign Hindus and hurt their sentiments.  

The high-cost publicity blitz launched by the Benny Hinn Ministries, and the manner in which it flaunted a guest list that read like a who's who of political India - N. Dharam Singh, Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, several Chief Ministers from other States and Union Ministers, including Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, to mention a few - was picked up by Hindu organizations to conclude "government patronage" to Christian organizations that are engaged in covert conversion. .....Three lakh chairs had been arranged for the audience, and areas prepared for floor seating. 

In a statement, CM Dharam Singh said that his government had granted permission for the event because the "Constitution has guaranteed the right to all faiths to worship and practice their religion".  We beg to differ with the CM on this issue. Assistance or freedom to groups with known predatory intentions is not the same as protecting freedom of religion.  

Furthermore, where did the government’s sense of defending the freedom of religion disappear when it took control of Hindu temples and made them as a revenue earning Govt. Dept? How shameful it is that in Karnataka the Hindu gods and goddesses have been converted in work horses of the Govt. The Govt. has fundamentally thwarted their objective and purpose. Now they have been reduced to the revenue earning entities of the Govt. which simultaneously served a death blow to the believers.   

3) Vital Functions of temples denied: The temples are not just for rituals by purohits and objects of tourism as the endowments department would have us believe, but also the centers of community's socio-cultural and religious life, a place of learning with Acharya, for community sewa, dharma prachar and for character building. The exposition of the grandeur of Hinduism - its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana,  Mahabharata, the Bhagwad Geeta - its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values that the community would like to project and propagate - are not only be denied by state control, but the deliberate and irreversible Govt. actions in liquidating resources of endowments meant for sustenance in perpetuity could stop these for good.  

4) Progressive Hindu Board could undertake the task of Social reformation within the community, and remove one of the major hurdles that cut at the very roots of the national unity.  It is well known that caste based polarization, related to Dalits and others, has been further enlarged by political and minority horse traders whose political lives depend on divisive fragmentation. This volatile phenomenon could be alleviated through awareness campaign spearheaded by the liberated temples. 

Similarly, involving villagers and the weaker sections in progressive educational, dharmik and social activities will build hope in them thus reducing chances of their joining disruptive movements like the Naxals and Maoists in sheer anger and desperation. 

5) the Govt. must restore community’s superior role in interim temple management through Hindu Advisory Councils, in case the formation of a Board takes time:  Such Councils could play a role in oversight and decision making process of the endowments department and temple Trusts, where Councils elected or nominated by the Community and state and national religious leaders could shoulder these responsibilities.  Additionally these Councils could also stop desecration and decimation of the religious infrastructure under Govt. control, pending denationalization, and till an autonomous Board(s) is constituted for taking over the charge.

6) It is a matter of national shame that even after 60 years of independence, Hindus are denied human right of religious freedom: The Hindu world is baffled and indignant as to why autonomous Hindu Boards are not allowed and why Hindus are denied the right to govern temples under the guidance of religious leaders, a practice prevalent in other religious formations.  Government must realize that the temples and their endowments have been built over centuries by our forefathers and it is the community which is the real owner and which must have the final say in the management and utilization of temple resources. 

7)  Hon'ble Chief Minister, after decades of Hindus religious persecution, any new legislation on endowments must assure full right to equality, freedom of practice and propagation of religion and to manage religious affairs, without govt. interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution and upheld by the Karnataka High Court by striking down the "Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1997" terming it unconstitutional.  May we suggest the following for your kind attention and urgent action to rectify the injustices inflicted upon Hindus:

a) Make the Rama Jois committee report public and have it reviewed by jurists and Community leaders and action taken for establishment of a Hindu Board by your administration with the aim to formulate procedures and pathways for transferring the temples from Endowment control to autonomous Hindu Boards. There must be a mechanism to have the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha - an apex body of Hindu seers - to advise and oversee the Board so that the religious aims are adhered to and avoid political interference and help transparency. 

b) Make public a time table for ending unconstitutional Govt. control of Temples and for transferring their jurisdiction in its entirety to autonomous Hindu Board(s); 

 c) In the interim, please make the endowments department transparent and open to public scrutiny with immediate effect;  

d)  Suggest immediately restoring community’s superior role in temple management through Hindu Advisory Councils, if the formation of Hindu Boards takes time.  Such community representative Councils could play a role in oversight and decision making process of the endowments department and temple Trusts; and assure oversight, transparency and constructive guidance of endowment department and Temple Trusts - till denationalization is realized. 

e) freeze all plans and actions in the domain of temples except for their routine maintenance,  pujaris salaries, temple rituals, etc. ;  Any major changes in physical structures or in the conduct of religious practices, diversion of revenues, sale/ transfer of lands and properties or major projects must not become operative without the express approval by the community; and  

f)  End unconstitutional diversion of temples funds to minority religionists and non- Hindu purposes and put a freeze on sale of temple lands, stop encroachments and take action for recovery of illegally occupied temple lands  

g) Since the operation of the endowments has been completely non- transparent, except an occasional report in the media, please direct the endowments department - the trustees - to prepare and place before the public a report on the temple finances, endowment lands and other assets since the time of take- over of the Hindu religious institutions. 

Sir, we are only asking for the restoration of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion of the majority community. Any lack of concern towards the resolution of such sensitive issues by the BJP leadership which aspires to rule India can hardly earn it an enthusiastic and sustainable support of the Hindu masses. The continuation of policies that shackle, humiliate and debilitate Hinduism under the BJP rule should be unthinkable.  

BJP’s talk of Hindutva and building of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya would remain meaningless if non-contentious issue like de-nationalization of temples is not taken to a logical conclusion.  We hope that under your able leadership Karnataka will show the way of elevating the Hindu pride to new heights by setting temples free from the control of the government. Such a rational, legal and justifiable policy will obviously have influence upon many other states that have illegally taken control of temples and are literally robbing the offerings made by the believers. This should help Hindus and BJP march towards new national revivalism – and that revivalism is bound to bring in its own rewards. 

Thanks for your time and consideration and hoping for a speedy response. 

Dr. Jagan Kaul

Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (USA)

June 11, 2008 

 Attachment A

         Statement of Receipts and disbursements of revenues from Temples

Govt. of Karnataka

         Statement of Allocation of Revenue for development purposes

Revenue/Expense  From Temples

* Disbursement for minority comm. development

**  Women and child welfare programs

 Note: These are approx. Figures

Source: Chief Minister's Office, Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore PH: 2225 3414 / 2225 3424 

Attachment B

In the name of faith

Frontline, Jan 29- Feb 11, 2005

PARVATHI MENON
in Bangalore

LARGER-THAN-LIFE images of a coiffured, smiling Benny Hinn, the California-based millionaire televangelist, gaze over traffic snarls and congested city intersections in Bangalore. The hoardings, which made their appearance a month ago, were part of a publicity campaign for a three-day Festival of Blessings addressed by Benny Hinn in Jakkur, Bangalore, between January 21 and 23. For the harried city denizen, intent on getting to work each morning and back home each evening, such hoarding campaigns in the heart of the metropolis represented at best a flicker in the unceasing flow of signages that assault urban sensibilities every day. 

 But organisations such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, the Hindu Jagarana Vedike, and a motley group comprising religious leaders of various Hindu mutts, were quick to seize the political opportunity that the Festival of Blessings had presented them with. They drummed up a shrill campaign against the Festival and its organisers, alleging that the real purpose of the festival is Christian conversion.

The BJP and its Sangh Parivar allies were able to enforce a partial bandh on January 21, the first day of the three-day festival. Gangs of their supporters forcibly closed shops in many parts of the city, set fire to tyres on roads, and stoned and flattened the tyres of government buses. Their efforts, however, could not stop the event, which was attended by an estimated three to four lakh persons, including Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh and several of his Cabinet colleagues, and Union Ministers M.V. Rajashekharan and Oscar Fernandes. In a statement, Dharam Singh said that his government had granted permission for the event because the "Constitution has guaranteed the right to all faiths to worship and practise their religion". He also said that when Indian religious leaders conducted prayer meetings in other countries, India must show tolerance for the leaders of other faiths.

Billed rather grandiosely by its organisers, the Benny Hinn Ministries, as "the largest Christian event in history", the Festival of Blessings may have passed off - as did a similar "festival" held in Mumbai in February 2004 - as yet another religious convention intended to collect the faithful in a show of strength. No different, in essence, from the Hindu Dharma Samavesha held in Bangalore in December 2003 by organisations allied to the Hindu Right.

The centrepiece of a Benny Hinn service, and its biggest draw, were his working of miracles that have supposedly cured thousands of people from life-threatening illnesses. This too is not uncommon in India. Claims of miracle wielding powers and the ability to cure sickness are made by a legion of godmen and godwomen, starting from the village medicine man, right up to the heads of powerful and wealthy cults, such as Satya Sai Baba, Kalki and Kerala's Mata Amritanandamayi. Indeed, for scientists, rationalists and secular groups, the opposition to the Benny Hinn show is based on his false promises of healing.

For the Sangh Parivar protesters, however, there is all the difference between an Indian miracle man and Benny Hinn: the latter is Christian, and therefore must certainly have a hidden conversion agenda. The high-cost publicity blitz launched by the Benny Hinn Ministries, and the manner in which it flaunted a guest list that read like a who's who of political India - N. Dharam Singh, Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, several Chief Ministers from other States and Union Ministers, including Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, to mention a few - was picked up by communal organisations to allege government patronage to Christian organisations that are engaged in covert conversion.

For the BJP, the Festival presented a golden opportunity for political mobilisation around a deeply divisive issue. Despite being the single largest party in the State Assembly, the BJP had been unable, ever since the Dharam Singh coalition government assumed office in May 2004, to build a serious campaign on any political or development-related issue. Its attempts to disrupt the annual Datta Peetha celebrations at the Bababudangiri shrine in Chickmagalur in December 2004 were firmly put down by the State government. Nor could it drum up any support against the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi Mutt. The Festival of Blessings became the peg upon which they hoped to hang their next campaign. The party called for the cancellation of the event by the government and the arrest of Benny Hinn for attempted conversion. Sections of the legal fraternity and leaders of the Kannada movement, such as M. Chidananda Murthy, have called for the cancellation of the programme on essentially the same grounds.

The Left was divided over the issue, with the Communist Party of India demanding that Hinn's programme be cancelled on the grounds that he would dupe people with promises of miracle healing. The State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) took a different position. "Benny Hinn, or any religious preacher for that matter, is well within his rights if he propagates or even criticises another religion. But he cannot denigrate another religion. Secondly, the propagation of blind faith and obscurantism is against our constitutional objectives. Finally, we criticise the double standards of those communal groups that criticise Hinn but tolerate obscurantism in their own religion," G.N. Nagaraj, CPI(M) State secretary, told Frontline. 

Editor, Lankesh Patrike and Convener of the Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum, told Frontline. "In India anyone has the constitutional right to propagate one's religion, to convert, and to assemble peacefully. The Sangh Parivar has been holding Hindu samajotsavs across the State and country. What moral right have they to ask for the cancellation of the programme?"

A pamphlet written by a member of the Benny Hinn Ministries that allegedly equated idolatry with harlotry further fuelled the opposition amongst Hindu groups to the event. The organising committee of the Festival withdrew the offending pamphlet immediately and publicly apologised for the insensitivity of its contents. "The pamphlet was put out without the permission of our publicity committee by a person who is not directly under the Festival of Blessings," said Sajan George, who heads the Protocol Committee for the event. "The police have booked cases against him, and we too are taking action."

Conference organisers alleged that the protests had nothing to do with religion but were part of a political agenda. "We have adhered to all the laws and regulations. It is those who are opposing us, including a section of the media, who are inciting religious intolerance," George told Frontline. "As an Indian, I continue to hold my right to practise my religion that my Constitution guarantees. Have Christians become tenants in their own country?"

The moral outrage expressed by Hindu mutt heads in Karnataka over the alleged attack on idolatry was surprising considering the strong anti-idolatry tradition that forms the basis of Veerashaivism, a breakaway Hindu tradition that has strong historical, religious and political roots in Karnataka. Basavanna, the 12th century founder of the Veerashaiva sect, and several Veerashaiva preachers, attacked Vedic Hinduism for idol worship and its patronage of the caste system - and in words that would make the controversial Benny Hinn Ministries pamphlet sound almost complimentary.

THE Karnataka High Court had turned down the pleas contained in four petitions filed before it to ban the event on the grounds that it was a veiled attempt at conversion. Referring to the order of a lower court restraining the BJP from holding, organising or staging any protest within 100 metres of the Jakkur airfield, the State Advocate-General stated in the High Court that "any attempt to create a law and order problem will be crushed".

In an affidavit filed in the High Court, S. Mariswamy, City Police Commissioner, had said that 10,000 policemen would be deployed on those days. This figure included two companies of the Rapid Action Force, 40 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, 1,200 officers from outside Bangalore city limits, 40 platoons of the City Armed Reserve Police and the entire Police Force of Bangalore City. There will also be 2,000 officers and men of the traffic police to manage traffic exclusively for the event.

The entourage that has flown into the city in Benny Hinn's private multi-million dollar jet was staying at the posh Leela Hotel. The venue was the State government's Jakkur Airfield Training Ground for which the organisers had paid the government Rs.10 lakhs as rent and another Rs.10 lakhs as caution deposit. Seventy-two screens (24 ft by 12 ft) and two mega screens twice that size had been erected. Three lakh chairs had been arranged for the audience, and areas prepared for floor seating.

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