A
Apoorva Devanshi
Guest
Karnataka government on Wednesday, passed the “Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment bill 2024.” According to the bill, temples with revenue more than Rs 1 crore must pay 10% tax to the government. Furthermore, temples with revenue between Rs 10 Lakh and Rs 1 crore must pay 5% tax.
BJP slammed the Congress led Karnataka government for its “Anti-Hindus Policies” and for using such policies to fill its depleted coffers. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa tweeted on X, “The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers.” He alleged that Congress will use the funds for “Another Purpose” instead.
Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy responded to the comments by accusing the BJP of bringing religion into politics. According to him, the Congress is the real upholder of Hinduism. He said, “Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, it is clear that BJP always pursues political gains by claiming that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests.”
He dismissed the accusations and said that the money shall be used for “Dharmic Prashad” purposes.
According to CNN News18,Karnataka govt collects Rs 445 crore from Hindu temples and allocates a total of Rs 330 crore on minorities.
According to new report on Times Now the Karnataka government spends arounds Rs. 393 crore on Minority development corporation.
Yediyurappa questioned why only Hindu temples are being targeted and not other religions. He said that devotees offer their offerings to God, and we should use them for the development of the temple. He believes that using the funds for any other purpose would constitute “Violence and Fraud.”
Netizens on the other hand have took to X, calling it “Slap on Hindus by Congress Government.” While others tweeted, “Hindu used to pay jizya tax during Aurangzeb rule. Hindu are still paying jizya tax in Congress rule. Nothing changed. Mughal left, Congress.”
Coming to the Section 19(a) of the Bill, it states that the funds collected under “Common Pool Fund” can be used for the benefit of the “Poor and Needy Organisations.” It does not clearly define the needy organisations and thus opens the doors for their misuse. Another provision of the Bill, that is, Section 25, allows the appointment of non-Hindu members in the management committees. This action has been called a violation of the autonomy and the customary management practices of Hindu temples.
As a result, the Bill is being termed as “Anti-Hindu” for it seems to enable siphoning of temple funds and their misuse. It undermines the autonomy of Hindu temples and raises concerns about the equitable allocation and management of temple funds.
The post Karnataka Passes Anti-Hindu Bill To Tax Temples! appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
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Political War of Words-
BJP slammed the Congress led Karnataka government for its “Anti-Hindus Policies” and for using such policies to fill its depleted coffers. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa tweeted on X, “The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers.” He alleged that Congress will use the funds for “Another Purpose” instead.
Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy responded to the comments by accusing the BJP of bringing religion into politics. According to him, the Congress is the real upholder of Hinduism. He said, “Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, it is clear that BJP always pursues political gains by claiming that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests.”
He dismissed the accusations and said that the money shall be used for “Dharmic Prashad” purposes.
According to CNN News18,Karnataka govt collects Rs 445 crore from Hindu temples and allocates a total of Rs 330 crore on minorities.
According to new report on Times Now the Karnataka government spends arounds Rs. 393 crore on Minority development corporation.
Yediyurappa questioned why only Hindu temples are being targeted and not other religions. He said that devotees offer their offerings to God, and we should use them for the development of the temple. He believes that using the funds for any other purpose would constitute “Violence and Fraud.”
Netizens on the other hand have took to X, calling it “Slap on Hindus by Congress Government.” While others tweeted, “Hindu used to pay jizya tax during Aurangzeb rule. Hindu are still paying jizya tax in Congress rule. Nothing changed. Mughal left, Congress.”
Controversial Provisions-
Coming to the Section 19(a) of the Bill, it states that the funds collected under “Common Pool Fund” can be used for the benefit of the “Poor and Needy Organisations.” It does not clearly define the needy organisations and thus opens the doors for their misuse. Another provision of the Bill, that is, Section 25, allows the appointment of non-Hindu members in the management committees. This action has been called a violation of the autonomy and the customary management practices of Hindu temples.
As a result, the Bill is being termed as “Anti-Hindu” for it seems to enable siphoning of temple funds and their misuse. It undermines the autonomy of Hindu temples and raises concerns about the equitable allocation and management of temple funds.
The post Karnataka Passes Anti-Hindu Bill To Tax Temples! appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
Continue reading...