Leading religious cultural body Sanskruti Surarksha Manch has expressed anguish over spate of events targeting Hindu Religious institutions by Government of Odisha. The Government has justified its actions in the wake of serious allegations against few religious leaders in the State being involved in illegal and immoral acts.
Sanskruti Surakhya Manch has strongly come against the Government’s act, saying allegation against few cannot be generalised and all Maths and religious institutions cannot be targeted. The Manch staged dharna in State Capital Bhubaneswar and district headquarter towns all over the State and termed Government action as biased against Hindus and protective of non Hindu faiths.
The Manch expressed concern that while prima facie illegal acts has come against microscopic minority Hindu religious leaders, the Government has generalised this and has put vast majority of religious leaders on target with vengeance, the Manch convener Pramod Das and senior leader Laxmikant Dash have alleged.
Through its series of dharnas the Manch submitted memorandums to Governor seeking his intervention on the matter. Manch demanded proper security and protection of religious leaders who are working for the society in the length and breadth of Odisha. The Manch said huge quantity of landed property of religious institutions has been illegally taken over by unscrupulous elements. The Manch wanted all these lands be handed over to respective original owners.
The Manch felt the mass media without properly verifying authenticity of the allegation is straight drawing conclusion and engaging itself in slander campaign. It looks like the media is falling prey to larger international conspiracy to malign Hindu faith.
Contrary to Government target against Hindu religious organisations, the Manch said huge Government, Forest and SC/ST land have been illegally acquired by Christian and Muslim organisations. While Hindu institutions are being targeted, no action against others has been initiated, the Manch alleged.
—Samanwaya Nanda
Civil Alertness: Key for Reforms
Bharatiya Matdata Sangathan used the birth anniversry of former President of Bharat Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to educate and aware the voters for strengthening democracy on October 15. The Sangathan organised first APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture. Senior journalist Alok Mehta delivered the lecture on “Road Map for Indian Democracy”. He mentioned the suggestions made by Dr Abdul Kalam about electoral and political reforms. He said there has been lack of political will to implement those reforms.
Shri Rikhab Chand Jain, president of Bharatiya Matdata Sangathan stressed the need of civil alertness to increase vote percentage to 90 per cent. He also emphasised to implement the suggestions made by Election Commission, Law Commission, Supreme Court and High Court, which are pending for more than 20 years.
Secretary of the Sangathan Rajendra Swami apprised the audience of the activitis of the Sangathan. He said the Matdata Sangathan is a non-political organisation and believes that reforms can be brought only by civil alertness and public pressure. Dharnas, demonstrations and strikes are of no use to achieve these goals. Each voter should know the importance of his vote. Voters must be alerted to raise voting percentage to 95 per cent to ensure election of competent people. Only then the political parties would be compelled to implement reforms. This will be the real tribute to the great son of Bharat, APJ Adbul Kalam. His dreams can only be realised in this way, he said. n
