– Akhilesh Tripathi
During the Sanatan Dharma Parliament at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, a demand was made to abolish Muslim Waqf Boards across India and establish a Sanatan Board. The event, attended by saints and sahus, was organised by Devkinandan Thakur at the Shanti Camp in Sector 17 of the Kumbh.
The ‘Parliament’ was inaugurated by Jagadguru Raghavacharya Maharaj and Devkinandan Thakur, who jointly lit a ceremonial lamp.
Thakur emphasised the need to protect Sanatan Dharma and presented a draft proposal for a Sanatan Board. He stated, “Hindustan will only be secure with the establishment of a Sanatan Board. If countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh lack Hindu Boards, why should Hindustan have a Muslim Waqf Board? The government must abolish it.”
Mahamandaleshwar Ashutoshanand called for collective action to ensure the establishment of the Sanatan Board. Jagadguru Raghavacharya Maharaj stressed that Sanatani leaders should oversee the proposed board. Chinmayanand Bapu criticised claims over Kumbh Mela lands, asserting that they belong to Sanatan Dharma.
Besides abolishing Muslim Waqf Boards and establishing a Sanatan Board, the ‘Parliament’ proposals demanded a grand temple for Lord Shri Krishna in Mathura, to free Hindu temples from government control and transfer management to religious leaders, set up cow shelters, dispensaries, and gurukuls at every temple, provide financial assistance to deter religious conversions, implement Vedic management systems for temple operations and offerings.
The Sanatan Board would independently oversee Hindu temples, their properties, and funds, with 11 members, including heads of major sects, Akhara representatives, and other prominent religious leaders; representatives from Hindu organisations, prominent temples, and cow welfare institutions; members from the judiciary, retired administrative officers, media, social sector, and education sector.
The ‘Parliament’ urged the Government to enact the “Sanatan Act 2025,” making Sanatan Board a statutory body across India. Proposals will soon be submitted to the government for consideration.
