Mafia, Hooligans and Goondas

The presence of mafia, hooligans, and goondas in or around sacred places like temples is a significant concern, as it can lead to criminal activities, disturb peace, and instill fear among devotees. These groups often exploit such areas for their illegal activities, undermining the sanctity and safety of the religious and cultural spaces.

Addressing the Presence of Criminal Elements

1. Strengthening Law Enforcement:

   - Increased Patrolling: Enhancing police presence and patrolling around the temple and surrounding areas to deter criminal activities.

   - Special Task Forces: Forming special task forces to specifically address the activities of mafia, hooligans, and goondas.

2. Community Vigilance:

   - Neighborhood Watch Programs: Establishing neighborhood watch programs where community members can collaborate with law enforcement to monitor and report suspicious activities.

   - Anonymous Tip Lines: Providing anonymous tip lines for residents to report criminal activities without fear of retaliation.

3. Legal Actions:
   - Strict Enforcement: Enforcing strict penalties for those found guilty of engaging in or supporting criminal activities near the temple.

   - Protective Orders: Issuing restraining orders against known offenders to keep them away from the temple premises.

4. Social and Educational Initiatives:

   - Awareness Campaigns: Running awareness campaigns to educate the community about the dangers of supporting or ignoring the presence of such elements.

   - Youth Programs: Implementing programs aimed at diverting at-risk youth from criminal paths and providing them with educational and employment opportunities.

5. Collaboration with Religious and Community Leaders:

   - Joint Efforts: Collaborating with religious leaders to create a united front against criminal elements and to promote a culture of peace and respect.

   - Community Meetings: Holding regular community meetings to discuss concerns and strategies for maintaining safety and order around the temple.

Long-term Solutions

1. Economic Development:

   - Job Creation: Promoting economic development and job creation in the area to reduce the appeal of criminal activities as a means of livelihood.

   - Entrepreneurship Programs: Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship programs to provide alternative income sources.

2. Rehabilitation Programs:

   - Support Services: Offering rehabilitation and support services for those who wish to leave criminal organizations and start afresh.

   - Counseling and Mentorship: Providing counseling and mentorship programs to help individuals reintegrate into society and lead productive lives.

3. Enhancing Temple Security:
   - Surveillance Systems: Installing surveillance cameras and other security systems around the temple premises to monitor and deter criminal activities.

   - Security Personnel: Employing trained security personnel to ensure the safety of devotees and the temple.

Community Engagement

1. Cultural Events and Initiatives:

   - Positive Engagement: Organizing cultural and community events that promote positive engagement and strengthen community bonds.

   - Educational Workshops: Hosting workshops and seminars on the importance of maintaining a peaceful and respectful environment around sacred spaces.

2. Role of Media:

   - Responsible Reporting: Encouraging responsible media reporting that highlights the issues and promotes solutions rather than sensationalizing the problem.

   - Awareness Campaigns: Utilizing media to run campaigns that raise awareness about the detrimental effects of criminal activities on the community.

By implementing a comprehensive strategy that includes law enforcement, community involvement, and social initiatives, it is possible to address the presence of mafia, hooligans, and goondas effectively, ensuring the safety and sanctity of sacred places like the Draupadi Amman Temple.

Prabhupāda: Yes, they are robbing, government. Dasyu dharmabhiḥ. It is stated, government will be like rogues. As the rogues and thieves, they take away from you by force, the government will do that. In the court, by income tax, so many people are being harassed.

Dhṛṣṭadyumna: There is a large organization called Mafia in this country.

Prabhupāda: Mafia?

Dhṛṣṭadyumna: Mafia, organized criminals, organized like businessmen. They are controlling the politicians by money. But although they are exposing, still it goes on. It is worse than ever.

Prabhupāda: What is that? Explain further.

Hari-śauri: The Mafia is an organization that was originally coming from Sicily.

Devotee (1): Organized crime.

Hari-śauri: They were an organized group of men that would control all the politics in the area by manipulation of money and businessmen.

Devotee (1): And violence.

Hari-śauri: And violence. So many things they'd do. They used to organize all the heroin that comes into the country, like this, for revenue, to get revenue, money. There's so many things. And places like Las Vegas, which is a big gambling city, that is also run by the Mafia. They control all the casinos and they control the police, they pay everyone off, like that, and if they don't agree, they kill them. So like this, their influence is spread everywhere, any illegal things that are going on

Prabhupāda: Terrorism.

Dhṛṣṭadyumna: Our last president, two presidents ago, Kennedy, he was involved with one of their prostitutes. She was getting information, and he was not investigating them because he was involved with one of their prostitutes.

Prabhupāda: They keep prostitutes also?

Dhṛṣṭadyumna: Oh, yes, they use them. Actually, they are controlling many of these judges, and then we are coming in, we are preaching the other thing---no prostitution, no drinking---and then we are getting fines.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: If the natural tendency of the living entity is to want to exist, to live, then why is it that they perform so many horrible acts that will destroy themselves?

Prabhupāda: They are thinking that they will exist in that way.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Is it that they see everyone as their enemy, and therefore everything has to be around them?

Prabhupāda: No, that is foolishness. Everyone wants to exist, struggle for existence, but they do not know how to exist. That is foolishness. Everyone wants to exist because actually he is eternal. He doesn't like to be destroyed. That is his natural inclination. But he does not know. We are giving the formula that if you want to exist, then you come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We are giving the right information. But they want to exist in their wrong way of existing. That is not possible.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/760626gdnv/?query=mafia#bb383458 

https://vrindavantoday.in/significant-rise-in-land-mafia/

 https://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/02-09/editorials4119.htm

 

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A kingdom, state, or empire must be governed under the instructions of saintly persons and brahmaṇas like the Kumaras. When monarchy ruled throughout the world, the monarch was actually directed by a board of brahmaṇas and saintly persons. The king, as the administrator of the state, executed his duties as a servant of the brahmaṇas. It was not that the kings or brahmaṇas were dictators, nor did they consider themselves proprietors of the state. The kings were also well versed in Vedic literature and thus were familiar with the injunction of Sri isopanisad: isavasyam idaṁ sarvam — everything that exists belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Kṛṣṇa also claims that He is the proprietor of all planetary systems (Sarva-Loka-maheśvaram). Since this is the case, no one can claim to be the proprietor of the state. The king, president, or head of the state should always remember that he is not the proprietor but the servant.

 

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