Many Hindu activists participated in the protest

March 05, 2014: Fares of special trains/buses made available to Hindus to visit pilgrim places such as Kumbh Mela, Amaranath fair, Chardham etc. are set at higher or even double the regular rates, or a special tax is imposed on the visiting devotees. Last year, the railway administration had increased train fare during Kumbh Mela period under the pretext of improving deteriorated financial condition of railways. Similarly, 3 years ago, fare for Chardham pilgrimage was increased by 15%. Andhra Pradesh Government charges double the normal fare to the devotees visiting Shri Raj Rajeshwarsvami Shiv temple at Vemulvada in Karimnagar during Mahashivaratri. This place is known as Kashi of Southern Bharat (Dakshin Kashi). On one hand, the Government offers crores of rupees as grant/subsidy for Haj pilgrims, and, on the other, it is recovering ‘Jiziya’ like tax from the Hindu community intending to take Darshan of Deity. To oppose this loot, and demand concessional rates to Hindu devotees visiting for Darshan of Deity, various proHindu organizations staged a strong agitation at Town Hall, Bengaluru.

Shri. Chandra Moger (Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Bengaluru Cordinator) said that ‘Hindus are burdened with increased fares while travelling to pilgrim places. The Congress Government in Karnataka is trying to usurp the wealth of temples through Temple Takeover act. Karnataka Government has taken over 2 temples in last 2 months (Shakti Ganapati temple and Shri Circle Maramma temple in Banglore). Is there any example of the Government taking over any Masjid or a church? We demand that the Government immediately cease such blatant interference in the religious affairs of Hindus, and immediately hand over all temples taken over by the Government to the devotees.

Kum. Nagmani Achar (Bengaluru Cordinator, Sanatan Sanstha), Shri. Krishnaraj (Sri Ram Sena), Shri. Sunil (Youth For nation), Advocate Shri Shashidhar were present. Also Trustees of various temples and volunteers of proHindu organizations participated in the agitation.