The court also directed the police to provide necessary assistance following its earlier order. The board had banned the RSS from setting up branches and conducting training in its religious places. The petitioner said that the RSS members were doing illegal activities in the temple without the permission of the concerned authorities.

In a recent order, a bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PG Ajith Kumar said that no mass practice or weapons practice would be allowed on the premises of the temple managed by the Travancore Devaswam Board.

“No mass drill or weaponry practices (sic) shall be permitted on the premises of the said temple, which is under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The Station House Officer of Chirayinkeezhu Police Station shall render necessary assistance to the Administrative Officer to ensure strict compliance of the prohibition…,” Justices Anil K Narendran and PG Ajithkumar said in a recent order.

The Kerala Temple Management Board then issued a new circular on May 18 asking its officials to strictly follow the earlier order. In the earlier order, it had prohibited any branch or group of RSS from practicing in religious areas under the Board.

The TDB issued a circular in 2016 banning all types of weapons training in temple complexes by the RSS. Later, on March 30, 2021, the board re-issued a circular asking the authorities to take action.

A writ petition filed in the Kerala High Court earlier, had alleged men claiming to be RSS members have been illegally encroaching on premises of Sarkara Devi temple in Kerala’s Chirayinkeezhu, leading to ‘loss of calm atmosphere’. Several devotees of Kerala’s Sarkara Devi temple have gone to the Kerala High Court with a simple demand — evict the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the temple’s premises.

To ensure this, devotees have approached the high court: a writ petition filed in the high court alleges that some men who claim to be members of the RSS have been illegally encroaching on temple premises, conducting mass drills and training members on how to fight with weapons on temple grounds every evening between 5 pm and 12 am.

The petition actually goes on to say that their activities disturb the peace of the temple and scare off devotees and visitors. It also said that the “unpleasant smell” and repeated use of “tobacco products like ‘Hans’ and ‘pan masala’ within the temple premises” affects the “cleanliness, purity, and divinity” of the place of worship.

According to the petition filed,  RSS men — saying they are RSS members — have been causing “mental stress, agony and loss of calm atmosphere required to be maintained during meditation and offering prayers” at the temple.

“We haven’t received any official notice on this, and so we haven’t filed an affidavit either,” said RSS state secretary P.N. Easwar. Adding, “We’ve looked into the matter, but can’t comment further at this stage.”

“We have no problem with them using the temple grounds,” said 68-year-old G. Vyasan, one of the two petitioners, referring to the alleged RSS members.

“But the way they use it is disrespectful.”

Vyasan visits the temple every day and recounted that he first used to see the drills daily. Those conducting the mass drills use sticks and have, what he describes as, ‘mock fights’ on some days. But besides that,  he said, they loiter on the temple premises and generally cause a disturbance after drinking alcohol and consuming tobacco.  These “drills” conducted on land right behind the temple, which has been cordoned off with chains and a makeshift barrier of rocks, have stopped since the writ petition was filed on June 20.

A former secretary of the temple, Ajay Kumar, told ThePrint that the men conducting the drills had built the barrier themselves. They wouldn’t allow any other devotees or visitors to use the space and would gather around 5 pm and spend the rest of the evening there, drinking into the night, he alleged.

The correspondent for ThePrint saw empty bottles of liquor, torn packets of tobacco, and what looked like firecracker shells on the temple premises.

“Those men come and shout ‘Jai Shri Ram’ all the time. I don’t understand why, this is a Devi temple!” said one devotee, underlining that the Sarkara Devi temple’s deity is Bhadrakali.

The TDB had in 2016 issued a circular banning all types of arms training in the temple complexes by the RSS. Later, on March 30, 2021, the board reissued the circular asking officials to take action.

In 2016, the then Devaswom Minister, Kadakampally Surendran, had claimed, as reported by NDTV, that the RSS was trying to turn temples into storehouses of arms in Kerala and that the government had been receiving a large number of complaints in this regard.

Related:

Devotees of Sarkara Devi temple want ‘RSS men’ to leave temple alone, they’re ‘causing agony, fighting with sticks’: Kerala

The post Kerala High Court bans RSS arms training in temple premises appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On social media the pictures of these events get posted but what kind of actual training is imparted and what are they motivated to fight for, one can only imagine. Togadia himself has been a repeat hate offender, persistently speaking against the Muslim community, hence, these training are bound to ring alarm bells. Yet, the administration and law enforcement in these states do not find these events to be violating any law, even though they are violating laws, specifically the Arms Act.

Under the Arms Act, section 9, anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited to possess or acquire any firearm or ammunition.

In these trainings held in Surendra Nagar (June 25) and Ahmedabad (June 1) in Gujarat, it can be seen in the video that  men are being trained in using firearms and general physical fitness by conducting exercises. In the training in Surendra Nagar, there are pictures of rifles and young boys and girls being trained.

Location: Surendar Nagar, Gujarat

Firearms training at Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s Prashikshan Shaurya Varg. pic.twitter.com/9PymWc8pse

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 25, 2023

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Hate monger Pravin Togadia led Rashtriya Bajrang Dal gives firearms training to Hindu youths at “Prashikshan Varg” camp. pic.twitter.com/6C8MXkslot

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 1, 2023

The training of Valsad, Gujarat was held between May 27 to May 30.

Firearms training being given to Hindu youths, including minors at Rashtriya Bajrang Dal camp in Valsad, Gujarat. https://t.co/OVh5ku3kOb pic.twitter.com/zyx7LR4K6e

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 2, 2023

The training in Fatehnagar, Rajasthan was conducted for middle aged men, as well as young and minor  boys who were being trained in using sticks and swords as well. The said video surfaced on June 6.

Location: Fatehnagar, Rajasthan

Bajrang Dal members organise firearms training for Hindu youths. pic.twitter.com/QGBiBoZGOR

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 6, 2023

In Bijnor, UP, the training was held on June 18 and June 19 to young boys, many of these were minors can be seen in this video.

Location: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh

Firearm training given to participants at the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s Shaurya Prashikshan Varg camp.@bijnorpolice pic.twitter.com/HC5mgLHpKT

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 12, 2023

In Panchkula, Haryana, a video surfaced on June 19 where young boys were being given training in operating rifles and sword fighting.

Location: Panchkula, Haryana

Rashtriya Bajrang Dal organized the Prashikshan Varg camp, where participants were given firearms training and sword fighting. pic.twitter.com/MU8AYErDc1

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) June 19, 2023

A round up of May firearms trainings can be read here

Related:

Hundreds can be seen repeating the communal and anti-Muslim oath administered by Pravin Togadia

Pravin Togadia urges Hindus to join AHP and Bajrang Dal, to prepare for a battle

Is the VHP above the law in this new age of impunity?

Another call for Hindu Rashtra, this time from Karnataka

Hate Watch: Notice served to BJP MLA Raja Singh for hate speech at Ajmer Dargah: Hyderabad

Hundreds can be seen repeating the communal and anti-Muslim oath administered by Pravin Togadia

The post The Right wing and their agenda to arm the youth appeared first on SabrangIndia.

सरकार के देवास्वोम विभाग द्वारा तैयार प्रस्तावित कानून के मसौदे के अनुसार अगर निजी परिसर में भी आरएसएस की शाखा लगाई जाती है तो उसकी सूचना पहले पुलिस को देनी होगी। इस प्रस्ताव पर अब राज्य का गृह मंत्रालय विचार कर रहा है।

सीपीएम नेता और देवास्वोम मंत्री कडकंपल्ली सुरेंद्रन का कहना है, “किसी भी संगठन द्वारा मंदिरों का इस्तेमाल हथियारों और शारीरिक प्रशिक्षण के लिए करना श्रद्धालुओं के साथ अन्याय है। कुछ मंदिरों में ऐसी गैर-कानूनी गतिविधियाँ हो रही हैं। शाखा की आड़ में आरएसएस मंदिरों को हथियार छिपाने और प्रशिक्षण देने की जगह के तौर पर इस्तेमाल कर रहा है।”
 
उल्लेखनीय है कि आरएसएस केरल में अपना प्रभाव बढ़ाने के लिए लंबे समय से प्रयास करता रहा है। अब उसने पुराने मंदिरों का जीर्णोद्धार करके उनमें शाखाएँ लगाने और घातक हथियार छिपाने की नीति अपनाई है। पिछले कुछ दिनों में आरएसएस कार्यकर्ताओं की अन्य दलों के साथ हिंसक झड़पों की खबरें भी आती रही हैं। आरएसएस की शाखाओं की संख्या में भी काफी बढ़ोतरी हुई है, लेकिन अब तक उसको राजनीतिक सफलता नहीं मिल पाई है।

केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने 8 सितंबर को राज्य के मुख्यमंत्री पी विजयन को फोन करके ताजा राजनीतिक हिंसा पर चिंता जताई, जिसके बाद विजयन ने उन्हें इस मामले में त्वरित कार्रवाई का आश्वासन दिया है।

त्रावणकोर देवास्वोम बोर्ड के अध्यक्ष पी गोपालकृष्णन ने भी कहा है, “आरएसएस के स्वयंसेवक मंदिरो में पूजा-प्रार्थना कर सकते हैं लेकिन हम उन्हें हथियारों के प्रशिक्षण की इजाजत नहीं देंगे।”
 
इस बीच केरल भारतीय जनता पार्टी इस कानून के अमल में आने की स्थिति में वैकल्पिक उपायों पर भी विचार कर रही है। पार्टी के राज्य महासचिव के सुरेंद्रन ने प्रस्तावित कानून के विरोध का ऐलान करते हुए कहा है कि आरएसएस की शाखाएँ सरकार के रहमोकरम से नहीं चलती हैं।
 

The post केरल : मंदिरों में हथियार प्रशिक्षण पर रोक, संघ की शाखाएँ नहीं लग सकेंगी appeared first on SabrangIndia.