New Delhi: The Congress authorities in Karnataka confronted a fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday after it handed the ‘Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024’ within the state meeting. The invoice, which imposes a tax on donations acquired by Hindu temples, was likened to the Jizya Tax (a historic tax imposed on non-Muslims below Islamic rule) by a number of BJP leaders. The passage of the invoice sparked a heated trade of phrases between the BJP and Congress leaders. According to the invoice, the federal government will accumulate 10 per cent from temples which have income exceeding Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent from people who have income between Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore.
The BJP accused the state authorities of implementing ‘Anti-Hindu’ insurance policies and exploiting the temple revenues to fill its personal coffers. “Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions in order to fill its empty coffers,” stated State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa on X.
Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology within the guise of secularism, has forged its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments modification act, it’s attempting to siphon off donations in addition to choices from Hindu temples… pic.twitter.com/Vzf9RQTaP4
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 22, 2024
“Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over Rs 1 crore, this is nothing but robbery. The offering made by the devotees for the worship of God and the development of the temple should be used for the renovation of the temple and the convenience of the devotees. If it is diverted for any other purpose, it is an assault on the faith of the people. There will be violence and fraud,” he added.
Yediyurappa additionally questioned why solely Hindu temples are being focused and never the incomes of different religions.
BJP’s Amit Malviya Calls Cong ‘New Muslim League
BJP chief and IT Cell Head Amit Malviya additionally lambasted the Siddaramaiah authorities’s transfer and in contrast the taxation of Hindu temples to Jizya tax.
Taking to X, Malviya stated, “In a surprising transfer, Congress Govt in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment invoice, permitting, amongst different issues: to nominate non Hindus to Temple belief. What sort of nonsense is that this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the neighborhood? it additionally mandates that Hindu Temples pay tax as much as 10% of the donation acquired. It is like Jizya .
In a surprising transfer, Congress Govt in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment invoice, permitting, amongst different issues:
– to nominate non Hindus to Temple belief. What sort of nonsense is that this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the… pic.twitter.com/JQDNjGibp2
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 22, 2024
“The above two amendments imply that Temple income can also be used for anything. For instance, Temple fund could potentially be used for building walls of a kabristan. If this doesn’t wake up the Hindus to the reality that Congress is the new Muslim League, nothing else will. Stop voting for the Congress!,” Malviya added.
Congress Defends Bill, Questions BJP’s Track Record
In response to the BJP’s allegations, Congress chief and Karnataka authorities minister Ramalinga Reddy defended the invoice and questioned the BJP’s observe report of defending Hindu pursuits. He accused the BJP of enjoying spiritual politics and branding the Congress as anti-Hindu. Reddy claimed that the Congress has all the time been the true champion of Hinduism and has safeguarded temples and Hindu pursuits over time.
“Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, It is clear that BJP always pursues political gains by alleging that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true advocates of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently protected temples and Hindu interests,” he stated.
“Did your BJP government neglect its duties between 2008 and 2013, as well as from 2019 to 2023? It seems they ignored the revenues of Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments, despite the existence of acts or bills in place since 2001,” he added.
“So, weren’t you also careless regarding Hindu temple revenues?” Ramalinga Reddy requested.
