Author: Our Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 5, 2004
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/05/stories/2004060505040300.htm
The all-India secretary of the Viswa
Hindu Parishad (VHP), G. Raghavulu, has demanded constitution of autonomous
`dharmic councils' to ensure spending of income belonging to Hindu religious
institutions only for a specific purpose.
He told reporters here on Friday
that it was unfortunate that the income of the Tirumala Tirumala Devasthanam
(TTD) was being spent on what he described as other purposes. He wanted
the proposed `dharmic councils' to be modelled on Wakf Boards and Christian
religious committees to ensure that the income was spent on the promotion
of a specific cause.
Mr. Raghavulu said the VHP had been
taking special steps to provide education, health and other ethical values
for 40 crore people, who live on the edge of poverty and insecurity.
He said 12,000 single-teacher schools
were set up all over the country by recruiting locals and imparting them
with necessary training. In Andhra Pradesh, there were 730 such schools
and it was being planned to take their number to one lakh within the next
three years.
Mr. Raghavulu said the VHP had constituted
`protective committees' (surakasha samitis) by imparting training in culture,
service and imbibing a spirit of security among countrymen.
The VHP functionary expressed concern
over religious conversion and claimed that more than eight lakh Hindus
were being converted annually all over the country.
He said funds to a tune of Rs. 18,000
crores were pouring into the country from abroad for religious purposes,
without any accountability.