The anti-Hindu policies of the Congress Government in Karnataka are creating unrest among Hindus. The Congress Government made a few controversial amendments to the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2024 to take money from temples and to destroy Hindu tradition by including non-Hindus in the temple trust or temple administration committees.
Diverting Temple Funds
There are 34,563 temples present in the State under Hindu Religious institutions and the Charitable Endowments Department. The 201 rich temples fall under Category/Grade A. The bill intends to divert “10 per cent of the gross income in respect of Notified temples/Institutions whose gross annual income exceeds Rs one crore” to a common pool fund for looking after temples. Though Government claims that the money will be used for the maintenance of Grade C temples through the proposed common pool fund, civic society fears that money will be diverted to non-Hindu organisations as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the Budget, announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the development of Waqf properties and Rs 200 crore for the development of Christian community.
Chief Minister, Karnataka
It is a common feeling that the Government is not able to spend funds on development as it is burdened with managing five guarantee schemes promised before the elections. According to the Hindu community, the Government is relying on donations and Hundi income from Hindu Temples to enrich other communities as all the state income is used to fulfil the free guarantees.
Despite the severe objection, the Government managed to get the bill passed in the Legislative Assembly on February 22. The passage was easy as the Congress party had a clear majority in the Assembly with 135 out of 224 members. With the sudden death of Raja Venkatappa Naik, the Congress MLA from Shorapur constituency, Congress has 134 members out of 223 seats at present.
In a major setback for Congress, the BJP-JDS jointly rejected the bill in the legislative council. In the 75-member upper house, BJP has 34, Congress has 30 and JDS has eight members. There is one chairman, one independent, and one vacancy.
However, according to Hindu activists, the Congress Government is not worried about rejection and may introduce the bill through an ordinance. BY Vijayendra, State president of BJP, ridiculed the State Government and sarcastically asked the Congress Government to place a hundi in front of Vidhana Soudha instead.
Cong’s Anti-Sanatan Policy Continues
The anti-Hindu policies of the Congress Government are not restricted to misusing temple revenue and dismantling Hindu tradition by appointing non-believers from different faiths into temple trusts alone.
The History question paper given to First PUC students on February 24 had questions about Islam and Christianity but missed out on Sanatan Dharma. The new initiative of selective questions omitting Hindu culture is nothing but poisoning young minds, says Mohan Gowda, State Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Karnataka.
“The History question paper was prepared with a malafide intention of defaming Hindu culture and tradition. The students were asked questions based on the teachings of Mohammad Paigambar, the holy book Quran, marking Makkah on the map. It had questions based on identifying different groups of Christianity and the advent of Jesus Christ. It is an alarming trend to note that not even a single question was asked about ancient Hindu Dharma,” lamented Mohan Gowda.
“It is sad to see that the Congress Government is indulging in cheating Hindus by diverting the temple income to appease Muslims and Christians. Do not steal money from temples. Place a hundi in front of Vidhana Soudha instead and request the people for donations to run the government. When the Government will not dare to touch Mosques and Churches, what is the purpose behind controlling temples alone? The BJP will fight the injustice done to Hindus,” said BY Vijayendra.
Pointing out that the proposed amendments will destroy the Hindu culture and tradition, Mohan Gowda, State spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Karnataka State and State Coordinator of Devasthan, Math & Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh, Karnataka State, said, “Allowing non-believers of Hindu religion to manage temple activities is the worst tactic by the Congress Government to destroy Hindu culture and tradition. How can the Government include non-Hindus in temple trust? If the same logic holds good, will the Government allow the appointment of Hindus to wakf boards and Churches? Though the bill is rejected in Council, the Government may go ahead and pass the bill through ordinance.”
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