Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Jan 5: The BJP government is trying to bring autonomous status to the Hindu temples in the state. The official statistics show that BJP government has released maximum grant to Hindu temples in the state during its tenure.
Chief minister (CM) Basavaraj Bommai had said last year that his government will give independence to temple in the state from the control of the government and allow them to function themselves.
According to the statistics given by Muzrai minister Shashikala Jolle to the legislative assembly, in the last five years to the 34563 temples affiliated to the endowment department, Rs 465 crore are given in 2020-21. This is the highest amount in the last five years.
The government led by Siddaramaiah had given Rs 447 crore in 2017-18, while coalition government of Congress and JD (S) had given Rs 248 crore in 2018-19. The BJP government led by B S Yediyurappa had given grant of Rs 294 crore in the first year of 2019-20 while last year the same was increased to 495 crore.
The state Congress has openly opposed the stance of BJP government of giving independence to temple managements. It said that this is as per the agenda that is followed by a small group of people within BJP. Siddaramaiah accused that BJP is doing false propaganda of using temple funds for other religious functions.
The leader of opposition, Siddaramaiah said, “The changing of status of temples to autonomous is the plot to grab the property belonging to the temples and giving it to a community that is 2 to 3% of total Hindu population in the state. If the government indeed implements this, it would be insult to more than 1000 years of protest and fights put up by other Hindu communities.”
Taunting Siddaramaiah on his statement accusing BJP, C T Ravi said, “Congress leaders of Karnataka are planning to use the funds of temples like Aurangzeb and the British. The money donated by devotees to temples should be used for the development of temples. CM Bommai has taken good decision in this regard.”