'Form Sanatan Board, Repeal Places Of Worship Act': Seers Demand Freeing Kashi, Mathura And Sambhal At Dharam Sansad

Numerous akharas and seers from all over the nation, who convened a 'Dharam Sansad' (religious assembly) at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Monday (27 January), demanded the abolition of the Places of Worship Act and the dissolution of the Waqf Board.

A resolution for the formation of a “Sanatan Hindu Board 2025” was also passed with the Shankaracharyas of all maths on board. They gave a call for taking "Mathura, Sambhal and Kashi in one go," Indian Express reported.

Reclaiming Gyanvapi in Varanasi (Kashi) and freeing Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura from 'encroachment' have been longstanding demands of Hindus. Sambhal has been added after recent findings of old temples and wells in the district.

The Places of Worship Act forbids the alteration of religious sites and preserves their spiritual nature as it was on 15 August 1947 and hence, its abolition can help Hindus in reclaiming their religious sites, especially in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Describing the approval of the resolution as a crucial move towards proclaiming the nation as a "Hindu Rashtra", appeals were made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

They were asked to present two offerings before the Maha Kumbh concludes — the establishment of the Sanatan Board and the 'kalyan' (a euphemism for termination) of the Waqf Board.

The resolution envisions the “Sanatan Board” as an independent body that will work towards “freeing temples from government control” and “stopping religious conversion” among other issues.

Spiritual leader Jagatguru Swami Vasudevacharya emphasised the need for the “Sanatan Board” and said, “Mathura, Sambhal aur Vishwanath, teenon lenge ek saath. Sanatan Board banne do (We will take Mathura, Sambhal and Vishwanath in one go... let the Sanatan Board take shape once).”

Preacher Devki Nandan Thakur reiterated the slogan that 'Ram Mandir to jhanki hai' and said, "Mathura ka poora function abhi baaki hai..Kashi bhi abhi adhi hai..Kashi mein baba ka poora damru bajna baki hai (Ram Mandir is just a trailer. Mathura and Kashi still need to be done).

Thanking PM Modi and CM Yogi for a successful organisation of the Maha Kumbh, he said that since this Maha Kumbh is happening after 144 years, they should get two dakshinas— formation of Sanatan Board and termination of Waqf Board.

Thakur asserted that the Sanatan Board would be the first step towards the formation of the Hindu Rashtra and urged PM Modi to repeal the Places of Worship Act by using the majority in the House.

He added that if the Sanatan Board was in place, they would not need to both High Courts and Supreme Court as their own court will decide which land belongs to Hindus and where the temples should be constructed.

He further stated that the resolution adopted at the Dharam Sansad would be forwarded to the government. The decision to summon their representatives for dialogue or suggest potential modifications to the proposal would then rest with them.