VRINDAVAN, INDIA, December 1, 2015 (New Kerala): Temple priests in this Hindu holy town are protesting the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to bring some of the main shrines of Braj Bhoomi under administrative control. Priests of Sri Bankey Bihari temple, the Brahmin Sabha, the Brajbasi Panda Mahasabha and members of several other groups have been protesting over the past few days by holding demonstrations. They accused the government of trying to infringe on their rights and eyeing the huge earnings of the temples.
The Braj Bhoomi shrines associated with Sri Krishna-Radha lore attract millions of Hindu devotees every year. The temple managements have been under a shadow for allegedly ignoring the interests of pilgrims. Informed sources said the government was likely to constitute a board for the shrines in Braj Bhoomi. The priests will continue to conduct the ritualistic puja but the management and maintenance of facilities will be the domain of the board. [HPI note: under most state laws in India, the government can take over the affairs of a temple if it can establish there is mismanagement on the part of those presently running the temple.]