Newly appointed president of Kerala’s BJP unit Kummanam Rajasekharan said on Saturday that temples in the state should be freed from government control.

Speaking to reporters after assuming office, he said: “Only temples are subjected to the intervention of politicians. Whereas, governance of mosques and churches are free from the meddling of politicians.” Rajasekharan has been general secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi since 1992.

Referring to three temple boards run by the state government, Rajasekharan said around 1,300 temples in Kerala are being managed by temple boards (known as devaswom boards). The practice of government boards running the temples should be stopped, he said.

The state BJP chief also said that the government has the responsibility to recover the alienated real estate properties of temples and hand these over to the temples. In some cases, the government has occupied temple properties, he said. Claiming that around 25,000 acre of land owned by temples have been encroached upon, Rajasekharan said this land should be returned to the temples.

“We have the same approach regarding encroachment on wakf land,” he added.

He also said all Hindus irrespective of their caste should be given opportunity to perform pooja at temples.

Rajasekharan further said that the BJP would contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Kerala with an aim to come to power.

“During earlier polls, the party used to say that it’s aim is to open an account. But this time we are contesting for coming to power by securing 70 plus seats,” he said.

He added that people of Kerala are waiting for a change. “As the BJP president, I have the responsibility to live up to the expectations of people, who are fed up with the alternate governments of LDF and UDF. At this critical juncture, I have a greater role to play as BJP chief,’’ he said.

(With PTI inputs )

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