TDB in Kerala banned RSS activities in temple premises, told this to the priests
According to a circular issued by the Devaswom Commissioner, namjapa protests (protests by chanting mantras) have been banned inside the premises of its temples. It has been said that all activities of RSS and other such ideological organizations without permission have been banned.
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The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages major temples in the Travancore region of Kerala, has issued a new circular banning the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on temple premises and its properties.
According to the circular issued by the Devaswom Commissioner, 'Namjapa protests' (protests by chanting mantras) have been banned inside the premises of its temples. It has been said that all activities of RSS and other such ideological organizations without permission have been banned.
The circular issued on October 20 directed the Devaswom vigilance wing to conduct surprise raids to find out whether the RSS or other organizations were holding shakhas, mass exercises, or weapons training on temple properties. It asked the staff and priests of the respective temples to inform the TDB management if there is a presence of such organizations and their activities are being conducted.
It has been said that disciplinary action will be taken against those employees and priests who fail to give this information. The circular also clarified that photographs, flags, and flex boards of people who have no connection with the temples should not be kept on their premises.
It said that non-compliance with the instructions would be considered a violation of the High Court's decision in this regard. The Kerala High Court had last month said that no group exercise or weapons training would be allowed in the premises of the Sarkara Devi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram district. will be given. The management of this temple comes under TDB. This direction was given on the petition of two devotees.
The plea sought directions to stop the illegal use and unauthorized occupation of the temple premises by the RSS and its members. In May this year, the TDB issued a circular asking officials to strictly follow its earlier order, which had banned RSS shakhas or group practice in temples under it. In 2016, the TDB issued a circular banning all types of weapons training conducted by the RSS on temple premises.
