Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has strongly criticized the Congress government's decision to allocate 10% of the revenue generated by temples with an annual income exceeding Rs one crore.
Vijayendra condemned the move, labeling it as part of the Congress government's "anti-Hindu" agenda in the state. He accused the ruling party of targeting temples to replenish its depleted coffers, citing the introduction and passage of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, as evidence of this agenda.
Under the provisions of the bill, the Karnataka government would claim 10% of the revenue generated by temples surpassing the Rs one crore income threshold. Vijayendra denounced this as an act of outright deprivation, arguing that funds contributed by devout worshippers should be allocated for temple renovations and improving facilities for devotees. Any diversion of these funds for other purposes, he asserted, would constitute a betrayal and deception of the trust placed by devotees in the temple's management.
Vijayendra further questioned the government's focus solely on Hindu temple revenues, highlighting the absence of similar measures targeting sacred sites of other religions. He suggested an alternative approach wherein the government installs donation boxes in temples and appeals to devotees for voluntary contributions to support state initiatives.
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