The most rationalist political party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam ( DMK) has released its election manifesto on the most “ auspicious” amavasya, after offering it to the “Samadhi” of Karunanidhi, former CM and DMK president. They did not think fit to offer/seek blessings at “samadhi “ to the late CN, Annadurai , former CM and DMK founder president whose legacy the party is following/upholding. The party , not out of option but compulsion, has been projecting as not against the Hindus for the last couple of months. The election manifesto is trying to reiterate it, to some extent. In this exercise the manifesto offers:
- There are thousands of small/big temples in villages and towns where in , Kumbahishekhams were not done at specified intervals , every Twelve years, as per Aagama rules. The manifesto assures , if voted to power, DMK will allocate Rs 1,000 crore for it.
- Every year, one lakh persons will be given a cash subsidy of maximum Rs 25,000 ( Rs Twenty Five thousands ) for pilgrimage to any one of these places: Rameswaram, Kashi, Puri, Kedarnath, Badrinath , Tirupati etc.
- 25,000 youngsters will be appointed under HR&CE to monitor and protect the assets belonging to the temples in the state.
- Rs 200 Cr/year will be allocated for rehabilitation/renewal of Mosques and Churches in the state
At the same time, a public campaign demanding release of all the Hindu temples from the clutches of the Govt. Secular Govt should leave it to the people to manage the places of worship, which is followed here in the case of minorities. The manifesto says the Govt will “ Allocate” Rs 1,000 cr , one time , for Hindu Temples and Rs 200 Cr/ year, recurring, for renovating Mosques and Churches. Thus continues its policy of appeasement.
As per the HR&CE act , it is set up to collect data, document, maintain and monitor the assets of Hindu temples in the state. But it is not serving the purpose but it is acting as a white elephant and draining the income of the temples. If only HR&CE discharged its functions the fate of all the temples in the state would be different. So appointing 25,000 more will further ruin the temples.
The Supreme Court has already directed the govt to stop subsidizing the “ Haj” pilgrimage and any responsible govt should not extend the scheme. In short the manifesto is full of “freebies” , silent on how it would arrange funds, lack of any “vision” , aiming only to capture power by hook or crook.
