New Delhi: Accusing the government of eyeing the wealth of temples and the institutions run by Hindu religious organisations, a gathering of sants (saints) on September 18 demanded that the attempts at acquiring these properties be stopped and those already taken over be given back with immediate effect.

"The government is following double standards as it tries to acquire temples in the name of renovation and beautification, but is ignoring institutions of other faiths which are fomenting trouble and spreading anti-national propaganda," Acharya Dharmendra said in New Delhi.

He was addressing a 'Virat Sant Sammelan' organised by Vishwa Sanatan Dharma Parishad.

Targeting BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the sants said that Vajpayee had attained power by talking of Hindu interest, but now his government is following anti-Hindu policies to appease minority voters under the excuse of coalition constraints.

"If the government does not stop eyeing temples and other religious organisations, sants would have to come out on the streets to counter the government's designs," he said.

Charging the BJP of going back on its promises, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said the party had not imposed a ban on cow slaughter till now.

Claiming that there was no need for the government to acquire temples, he said "all entities taken over in this manner have become financially unviable over time."

Exhorting Hindus to protest unitedly against the government move, Mahant Avaidyanath said that this is a challenge to the whole faith.

PTI