It's wrong to prevent people from entering temples on basis of religion: Paswan

Somnath temple authorities recently decided against entry to people of other faiths without prior permission

Commenting on the recent news reports of the Somnath temple in Gujarat being off-limits for non-Hindus without prior permit, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the move was uncalled for.

"This is wrong.  You cannot prevent anybody from entering temple on the basis of caste or religion," Paswan said during a media briefing here on Thursday.  Authorities at the famous pilgrim place of Lord Shiva, the Somnath temple near Veraval in Saurashtra region of Gujarat have decided against entry to people following other faiths without prior permission.

Somnath temple trust is governed by a trustee board headed by former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader L K Advani are other trustees.

Paswan, who was in town for a roadshow on the NDA government's completion of one year at the helm, lamented that sugarcane farmers' arrears have touched Rs 22,000 crore from Rs 15,000 crore.  “We have had talks with farmers and mill owners and trying to address their demands such as increasing import duty from 15 per cent to 40 per cent and increasing export incentive from Rs 3,300 per tonne on raw sugar to Rs 4,000 per tonne,” said Paswan.

The minister also said that e-commerce websites were also being brought under the purview of consumer grievances.

"Today, there are different consumer courts for different products and services. There needs to be a single authority for consumer protection. We are amending the act to bring in such an authority who has investigation rights over all kinds of products and services that affect a consumer," Paswan added.

Among other amendments, consumers will now not be required to appoint their own lawyers whereas judgment in consumer courts will now be delivered within 90 days of filing complaint, Paswan said.