The DMK tries to protect its secular image very jealously, even if it means that it has to walk that extra mile to please the minorities. And in the company of the Congress, the DMK wants to be seen as championing the cause of the secular forces. Which is perhaps why, it slipped in its bias in its election manifesto for 2016 general elections, released by DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on Sunday. On the whole, the 76 page document appears to be one aimed at pleasing all sections of the society, but even doing so, the DMK has managed toquietly insert its love for minorities. Otherwise, the DMK manifesto relies heavily on freebies as a means to attract voters to entrust the
responsibility of running the state for the next years.

In the English version of the DMK Manifesto, on page 84 under section Welfare of Minorities, the party declared, “Properties of the Wakf board will be recovered from encroachers and protected.” There is nothing wrong with this if the party that would like to form the government from protecting the interests of any section of the society. Moreover, it is its duty to do so.

But when the same party tries to adopt a different posture and applies another yardstick when it came to properties owned by religious institutions of other faiths, what comes out is its bias, said a political analyst who preferred to remain anonymous. He saw in the DMK declaration, “A land bank will be established for protecting vacant land belonging to temples,” contained on page 111, under the head “Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, a clever ploy to enable those wanting to usurp the lands. As in the next sentence, the DMK manifesto writers slip in the “operative portion” — A high level committee headed by retired judge to consider demands from people who are offering to buy the temple land within legal framework.”

It is this, the political analyst says that through which mischief is sought to be done as when it came to Wakf board lands, they will be protected and recovered from encroachers. But when it came to lands belonging to temples, a committee will consider demands of people who was to purchase the lands.

What the DMK has not made it clear is that whether anyone could buy the lands belonging to temples.

But two different approaches to a similar entity – property –belonging to two different communities, is not exactly a proper thing to do, said the political analyst, questioning the motive behind the innocuous looking and sounding “welfare steps”.

It is a well-known fact that, a property that belonged to a temple or any other religious body cannot be donated to any individual, though it can be rented or leased. Also the income earned by such activity should be utilized for that particular temple or religious body alone. After several years, those board members who have rented or leased the property to any individual, and as well as those who have obtained the privilege to make use of the property within the deed, would have died. But the deed stands as such that the property cannot be donated to any individual. It is not lawful for any individual who have been utilizing the property to secure legal rights of ownership for that
property. Just for the sake of utilizing the property for a longer period of time does not mean that, the property can be donated to that individual, Advocate AB Manikandan said.

It is also known that people who are utilizing such properties or who have encroached the lands enjoy the patronage of political parties and many are considered close to the DMK. Many belong to minority community as well, who constitute a solid vote bank of the party. Which is why, the different approach, explained the political analyst.
Many properties of temples are under encroachment. If the party that aspires to form the next government tries to donate the property to the users (lease holders), it would definitely set a wrong precedent. Most likely it would lead to land grab but through legal means, he said.