The Karnataka government on Wednesday has passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024 in the state assembly. The bill gives the government the authority to tax temples that earn more than ₹1 crore (10%) and those that earn between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore (5%).After the Siddharamaiah government in Karnataka approved the bill in the state assembly on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the government calling it Anti-Hindu activity.Taking it to his official X handle, the president of the Karnataka BJP, Vijayendra Yediyurappa, claimed that Congress party is trying to implement anti-Hindu policies. 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 said on X.He said the collected funds will be used for another purpose.Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over ₹1 crore, this is nothing but poverty. The offering dedicated by the devotees for the knowledge of God and the development of the temple should be allocated for the renovation of the temple and for the convenience of the devotees. If it is allocated for another purpose, it is on the divine beliefs of the people. There will be violence and fraud, he added.ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಣೀ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೂ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಧೋರಣೆ ಅನುಸರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಇದೀಗ ತನ್ನ ಬರಿದಾಗಿರುವ ಬೊಕ್ಕಸ ತುಂಬಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಹಿಂದೂ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳ ಆದಾಯದ ಮೇಲೂ ವಕ್ರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಬೀರಿ ಹಿಂದೂ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಮತ್ತು ಧರ್ಮಾದಾಯ ದತ್ತಿಗಳ ವಿಧೇಯಕವನ್ನು ಮಂಡಿಸಿ ಅಂಗೀಕಾರ ಪಡೆದು ಕೊಂಡಿದೆ.ಇದರ ಅನುಸಾರ ಇನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ 1… pic.twitter.com/UwcN7yjjss— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 21, 2024The BJP leader also alleged that by Congress is targeting Hindu temples only. Meanwhile, the Congress minister Ramalinga Reddy has denied all the allegations and said that the tax will be used for dharmik puposes only. The minister also said that the money will be used for the upliftment and education of the children of priest.
