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RAJAHMUNDRY, INDIA, August 7, 2003: The international working president of the VHP, Ashok Singhal, on Thursday advocated administration of temples by independent, self-governing bodies and stressed the importance of people’s participation. In the name of better administration, state governments, including Andra Pradesh government, had been interfering with the temple administration. There was a lot of corruption. Nearly 80 percent of the income was being spent on staff and maintenance. This should stop, Mr. Singhal said. Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Singhal, who came here to take a dip in the Godavari, objected to the sale of temple lands and demanded an immediate halt to acquisition of temple lands for any purpose. He said that temple administration in Andhra Pradesh was a legacy of colonial rule in the country. Previously, philanthropists donated hundreds of acres to temples. They were managed by local devotees and swamijis and there was no interference of kings, he added.

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