Kerala: A ‘mission’ to reclaim Hindu temple lands from illegal encroachments by anti-Hindu rackets.

Advocate Krishna Raj, known for his strong Hindutva views, and his team including Advocate Pratheesh Viswanath have initiated around 100 cases targeting individuals, trusts, and non-Hindu religious organisations, alleging encroachment upon Hindu temple lands.

B Upendran | HENB | Kochi | March 14, 2024:: To resist the silent invasion upon Hindu Temple lands and properties, a group of lawyers has come forward to reclaim those temple lands and properties from the hands of anti-Hindu rackets of land grabbers.

Hundreds of petitions have been filed in different courts in Kerala to recover such temple lands under alleged encroachments. Advocate Krishna Raj, known for his strong Hindutva views, and his team including Advocate Pratheesh Viswanath have initiated around 100 cases targeting individuals, trusts, and non-Hindu religious organisations, alleging encroachment upon Hindu temple lands.

In such a case, St Philomena Sadhu Jana Sangam (a Christian missionary network) is now facing a challenge in the court of law as they fraudulently bought the lands of Konnamkulangara Bhagavathy temple.

“We bought the land in 1969, registered it, and possess a title deed. We don’t understand the basis of this case when we have documents,” Thomas Parackal told TNM, according to a report published in TNM.  Parackal is the president of the St Philomena Sadhu Jana Sangam, a previously church-affiliated cooperative society based in Koonammavu near north Paravoor in Kerala’s Kochi district. He is referring to a petition filed in the Kerala High Court accusing the Sangam of encroaching upon around 10 acres of land owned by the Konnamkulangara Bhagavathy temple.

Vow, there are around  100 cases as filed by a group of Hindutva inspired lawyers under the banner ‘Save Deities-Save Temples’, targeting individuals, trusts, and organisations – predominantly belonging to minority religions – alleging that they have encroached upon Hindu temple lands. The group is led by Advocate E Krishna Raj, known for his contentious Hindutva views, and his team which includes Pratheesh Viswanath, another staunch Hindu right-wing activist and lawyer.

When contacted  Advocate Krishna Raj at his office in Ernakulam’s Kaloor, he said, “I am not associated with any Sangh Parivar group. For legal affairs, I assist them in some cases. But I am a proud Hindu, not an apologetic Hindu. My aim is to reclaim the lost properties of Bhagawan (god). I am leading this movement alone.”

But, ex-Pracharak of RSS and founder of Hindu Seva Kendram, Advocate Pratheesh Viswanath has a good penetration in Sangh Parivar, is now greatly involved in the ‘mission’ to reclaim Hindu temple lands from illegal encroachments. 

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__Inputs from The News Minutes.