Coimbatore: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) national general secretary (organisation) Milind Parande on Tuesday said funds generated by Hindu temples should be used only for the welfare of the Hindu community, service initiatives and temple-related maintenance.
He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating an ambulance service at the Sivagiri Veera Vinayagar Temple on Madukkarai–Kurumbapalayam Road. Parande said the ambulance service was started to support healthcare needs in Coimbatore district, and that a similar service would be launched in Tiruchirappalli next month. He added that the organisation plans to expand various service projects across all districts of Tamil Nadu.
Parande said the VHP is currently on an organisational tour in Tamil Nadu and aims to reach at least two lakh villages as part of its nationwide expansion. He said efforts are under way to enrol more than one crore people into the organisation by December.
He also said celebrations marking the birth centenary of former VHP leader Ashok Singhal would be held from October 1 with multiple programmes continuing into next year. According to him, the VHP is currently running over 7,000 service projects in areas such as health, education, self-employment and jobs.
Raising other demands, Parande alleged that religious conversions of Hindus were increasing in the state and called for a strong law to prevent it. He also urged steps to curb illegal cattle smuggling for meat by increasing police check-posts and arresting those involved, and said land donated by devotees should be used only for temple service and any diversion should be stopped immediately.
