Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 3: "BJP's face has turned red after allocating only Rs 3000 crore to minorities in the budget. We allocate thousands of crores for the development of temples. If we were anti-Hindu, would we allocate funds to temples? Providing funds to minorities does not make us anti-Hindu," said district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Addressing the media on Saturday, March 3, Dinesh Gundu Rao remarked, "Out of the Rs 3.70 lac crore budget, Rs 3000 crore has been allotted to minorities, Rs 3000 crore to fisheries, and Rs 39,000 crore to SC/ST communities. Are they not Hindus?"

"When B S Yediyurappa was chief minister, rules were in place allowing funds from the endowment department to be allocated to other religions. Later, the Congress restricted endowment department funds exclusively to Hindus. Now, with these funds not going to other religions, will it be considered an anti-Hindu policy?"

"The BJP has alleged that development works have been hindered and economic conditions have worsened. However, during the last budget, we allocated Rs 52,000 crore for guarantee schemes and Rs 1.20 lac crore for development. Therefore, the minister has refuted the allegations made by the BJP.

"During our tenure, 18% more tax has been collected compared to the BJP's tenure. We have implemented guarantee schemes without corruption, benefiting the public. In the year 2023-24, only 2.2 billion dollars were invested in Gujarat, whereas in Karnataka, 20.4 billion dollars were invested. Therefore, claims that development works have not progressed are unfounded," he stated.