JAMMU, Jun 26: Movement Kalki on Friday organized a massive protest at Hari Singh Park here, demanding greater transparency and accountability in the administration of Hindu temples. The protesters alleged misuse of temple offerings and called for the constitution of a National Sanatan Board besides an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the affairs of the Dharmarth Trust.
Led by General Secretary Karnail Chand, the demonstrators raised slogans seeking reforms in temple management and expressed concern over the alleged financial irregularities involving temple offerings and the recent controversy surrounding the management of Shri Ram Mandir, Ayodhya. They maintained that any misuse of donations made by devotees deeply hurts the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus and undermines public trust in religious institutions.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers said temples represent the spiritual, cultural and civilizational heritage of Sanatan Dharma and must be administered through transparent and accountable mechanisms. They proposed the establishment of a National Sanatan Board comprising eminent saints, religious scholars, retired judges, financial experts and representatives of Hindu society to oversee the management of major temples and shrines across the country.
The organization emphasized that donations made by devotees should be utilized solely for religious, educational and charitable purposes, including the establishment and maintenance of Gaushalas, Gurukuls, Sanskrit educational institutions, Dharamshalas, Sadabrat Langars, hospitals, old-age homes and welfare programmes for economically weaker sections.
The speakers also recalled that the Dharmarth Department was founded by Maharaja Gulab Singh with the objective of preserving and promoting Sanatan Dharma through the construction and maintenance of temples and charitable institutions across the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. They alleged that over the years many of these institutions, including Gaushalas, Sanskrit Pathshalas and Dharamshalas, have either ceased functioning or have been reduced to mere formalities.
Movement Kalki demanded that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha constitute an SIT to investigate the financial affairs of the Dharmarth Trust and the utilization of temple offerings. The organization further alleged that around 131 historic temples remain under the control of a single family and sought an impartial inquiry into the functioning of the Trust.
The protesters also demanded an independent commission to conduct a comprehensive audit of all movable and immovable properties of the Dharmarth Trust from 1947 onwards, including temple lands, leases, rentals, donations and investments. They called for the publication of a White Paper detailing the Trust’s assets and financial status to ensure complete public transparency.
The organization further urged the administration to reconstitute the present management of the Dharmarth Trust through an ordinance or alternatively merge its temples with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. It also advocated mandatory annual audits and public disclosure of accounts for all temple trusts.
Among those present were Pritam Sharma, Dr. Sushil Bhola, Manav Sharma, Vikram Mahajan, Sanjeev Dubey, Raj Kumar, Anil Arora, Rajdev Singh, Arun Gupta, Sunita Kundal and several other office bearers, members and supporters of Movement Kalki.
Concluding the protest, the participants resolved to continue their peaceful democratic campaign until reforms ensuring transparency, accountability and proper management of Hindu temples are implemented.