RPT-Gods forbid: India's temples guard their gold from government

[sunshine]

By D. Jose

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Sept 30 (Reuters) - India's Hindu temples are resisting divulging their gold holdings - perhaps nearly half the amount held in Fort Knox - amid mistrust of the motives of authorities who are trying to cut a hefty import bill that is hurting the economy.

 

The central bank, which has already taken steps that have slowed to a trickle the incoming supplies that have exacerbated India's current account deficit, has sent letters to some of the country's richest temples asking for details of their gold.

 

It says the inquiries are simply data collection, but Hindu groups are up in arms.

 

"The gold stored in temples was contributed by devotees over thousands of years and we will not allow anyone to usurp it," said V Mohanan, secretary of the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad organisation in Kerala state, in a statement.

 

Read full article

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/30/india-gold-temples-idUSL4N0HQ0OZ20130930

 

 

[Jordan]

That's an interesting conflict waiting to happen.