At a time when the Places of Worship Act has been challenged in the Supreme Court amid controversy over the ownership of many mosques and dargahs escalating to a new height, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will hold the meeting of its “margdarshak mandal” in the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025 at Prayagraj of Uttar Pradesh to discuss these issues.

VHP Margdarshak Mandal Baithak

The Hindutva outfit has announced that it will hold the “baithak” or meeting of its “margdarshak mandal” from January 24 to January 27 in Maha Kumbh 2025. The “margdarshak mandal” members will be held on January 24, and that of woman saints or “sadhvis” on January 25. The saints will meet on January 26 while the young saints “yuva sadhus” will huddle on January 27.

Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: Social Harmony Or Political Strategy? RSS, BJP’s Outreach Efforts Under Lens

The VHP has said that as hundreds of thousands of saints and crores of Hindus will gather at the Maha Kumbh 2025 to take a holy bath in the Ganges, it is the opportune moment to discuss all contentious issues related to Hinduism and its followers.

VHP Emphasises On ‘Freeing Up’ Temples

VHP spokesperson Pawan Bansal told journalists, “The freeing of temples is top on the VHP’s agenda, and we are also holding a nationwide campaign on it.”

He also said that the saints who participate in the “margdarshak mandal” meeting would raise their own issues and those concerning the larger Hindu society.

He said further that the saints attending the VHP meeting would also discuss other contemporary issues that have recently come to the attention of Hindu society.

VHP To Launch Mass Movement

The VHP spokesperson also said that the Hindutva outfit would undertake a ‘jan-jagran’ (mass awakening) campaign, which would eventually lead to a large movement.

Bansal made it clear that the VHP would carry out the movement in a ‘democratic manner,’ similar to the one launched for Ram Janmabhoomi.

Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: How Will It Generate Rs. 2 Lakh Crore, Create Jobs, Boost UP Economy?

Political observers believe that buoyed by the success and political dividends of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, the Hindutva outfit has now adopted an aggressive approach.

Another Ram Janmabhoomi Movement Brewing?

People also recall that the Ram Janmabhoomi movement began as a VHP programme with little backing from the BJP in the 1980s. However, soon the saffron party hijacked the entire movement with the backing of the RSS and escalated it, which culminated in the demolition of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on December 6, 1992.

However, the analysts believe the VHP has taken a bellicose attitude towards the Places of Worship Act. This is evident from the outfit’s raising the ownership issues of many mosques and mausoleums, including Sambha’s Jama Masjid.

VHP Becomes Aggressive

The aggression of the VHP can be understood by the fact that it has raked up the issue of “freeing up” the temples, arguing that these are under the control of the government or the Muslims and that the Hindus should reclaim them.

The bellicose attitude of the VHP can be gauged by the statement of its International President Alok Kumar, who said that these temples were once run by society and were centres of social and cultural upliftment.

Opposing government interference, he said that a part of the income is given to the government, which takes a part of their income.

He said that the government should relinquish its control over the temples.

Analysts believe the VHP wants all temples to be taken over from the government and handed over to the trusts, dominated by its own people.

VHP Questions Ownership Of Many Mosques

Secondly, the Hindutva outfit also wants to rake up the issue of mosques and mausoleums spread across the country and challenge their ownership.

Many seers, saints, and acharyas of various Hindu sects attended the “Haindhava Shankarvam” programme at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.

They, along with the VHP, expressed their aggression and emphasised the need to regain control of these disputed structures.

The VHP has raked up the issue of “freeing the temples” at a time when the Supreme Court has taken up the Places of Worship Act.

VHP Challenges Places Of Worship Act

This is not a new issue for the Hindutva outfit. It challenged the act in the Apex Court in 2022 and claimed that it does not apply to the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute in Varanasi.

Alok Kumar argued that the site where the ‘Shivling’ was found was a temple and had been so even in 1947. He referred to it as the Gyanvapi Mandir.

The Places of Worship Act mandates that the religious character of all places of worship must remain as it was on August 15, 1947.

The VHP and others have challenged it.

The Hindutva outfit wants to rake up the issue at the biggest congregation of Hindus, get resolutions passed and put pressure on the government.

The Supreme Court has asked the union government to clarify its position on the act. The VHP has upped the ante at the most opportune time.

VHP General Secretary Milind Parande explained its strategy. Emphasizing the need to repeal the act, he said, “The Supreme Court and high courts are considering issues related to Kashi and Mathura despite this Act.”

He even suggested that the Muslim community “voluntarily give up its claim” on the disputed sites in Kashi and Mathura.

Parande also claimed that it would “prevent problems in the future”, if the Muslims voluntarily vacate the area.