Mumbai: The Maharashtra Temple Trusts Conference demanded repealing the Waqf Act alleging that non-Hindus have encroached on temples through Waqf Board. Temple trusts also passed a resolution for ‘Aarti wherever there is a temple’, to strengthen the fight against encroachments on temple lands.

The third Maharashtra Temple Trust Conference, started on Tuesday, is organised by the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Shri Jivdani Devi Sansthan, Shri Jyotirling Bhimashankar Devasthan, Shri Sai Palkhi Niwara, and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Over 875 temple representatives from across Maharashtra participated in this conference organised at Shridi’s Shri Sai Palkhi Niwara.

On the second day of the conference, the Maharashtra Mandir Nyas called to strengthen the fight against encroachments on temple lands and demanded repealing of the Waqf Act. Sunil Ghanwat, national coordinator of the Mandir Mahasangh, alleged that non-Hindus have encroached on the lands of temples through the Waqf Board. He demanded that “Waqf Act should be repealed to combat such encroachment.”

The conference passed a resolution of ‘Aarti wherever there is a temple’, calling Hindus to organise daily aarti at all the temples near them to prevent encroachment of the temples. The second day also reported discussions on initiatives like installing boards providing information about Hindu religion and culture in 108 temples, implementing a dress code in over 100 temples, and starting cultural education classes for children in temples.

Ranjit Savarkar, Vinayak Savarkar’s grandson, announced that his organisation Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak is working to form a ‘Hindu Workforce’ for temple jobs. “While efforts are being made to expand religious influence through the Halal Certification, we have introduced the ‘Om Certification for Hindu traders operating in or around temples. Additionally, to ensure that temples have only Hindu workers, we will soon create a ‘Hindu Workforce,’ where only Hindus will be employed.”

Ghanwat also praised Akhada Parishad’s decision to allow only Hindus to trade within the Kumbh Mela area at the upcoming Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

“Those who do not believe in Hindu deities have shops in temple premises and sell offerings, flowers, etc. Moreover, they indulge in practices like spitting on goods through ‘spit jihad.’ Henceforth, during village fairs or festivals, we must ensure that shops of other religions are not permitted,” he added.