The Wealthy Gods of India: Who Owns the Riches?
By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 24 September 2011, 00:44 IST   |    77 Comments
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While the royal family claims the treasure belongs to the gods, the Kerala government thinks on the similar lines and says it's the wealth of the temple and it will remain there protected. The heirs of Marthanda Varma Travancore royal family told the apex court that wealth unearthed belongs to the deity and no one else, and said the government's decision is a welcome gesture.
Temples
CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan sparked a controversy when he said the temple treasure is a public wealth. He demanded the wealth to be managed by a committee containing nominees of political parties. The Marxian leader's statement was welcomed with severe criticism from the Hindu organizations, Congress party and Kerala Government. The Hindu outfits termed this as a humiliation of believers. Commenting on this, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said, "I am of the view that the treasures found in the vaults of the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple are assets of the temple itself." There were many other suggestions arising from different sections of the society asking the government to use the money to start a best-equipped university for the underprivileged, to be displayed in museums or to feed the poor.

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