Punjab AAP eyes Hindu vote with 'Temple Act' promise

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced Hindu Temple Act to grant temples independent management, in an attempt to boost Hindu vote.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

In an attempt to woo the Hindu vote bank, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that his government will soon introduce a law to give Hindu temples the right to manage their own affairs without government control.

If enacted, the Hindu Temple Act would fulfill the long-pending demand of Punjab's Hindu Welfare Board, which has been campaigning for an independent body to manage temples in Punjab since 2012.

Mann's statement came after Mahant Ravikant Muni, Chairman of the Hindu Welfare Board, repeatedly raised the demand to the Chief Minister, asserting that the Act would ensure the independent management of Hindu religious sites in the state without government interference.

Mann made the announcement during a meeting with the Hindu Welfare Board at Raj Bhawan, in the presence of Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The meeting sent a strong message that the government is serious about addressing the concerns of the Hindu community. During the meeting, Mann reportedly assured the Board that the law will be drafted and implemented soon.

According to Chetan Dev, Secretary of the Hindu Welfare Board, the announcement came during a goodwill meeting held in the presence of Kataria. He said the Chief Minister assured that an official draft of this Act would be prepared soon and implemented.