BJP accuses Congress government in India's Karnataka of anti-Hindu bias over temple tax bill

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at theCongress government in the Indian state of Karnataka and labelled it as anti-Hindu, after the latter passed the 'Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024' in the state assembly on Wednesday (Feb 21).

The bill grants the government the authority to levy a 10 per cent tax on temples with revenues exceeding 10 million and a 5 per cent tax on those with revenues ranging between 1 million and 10 million.

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Vijayendra Yediyurappa, the Karnataka BJP president, accused the Congress government of consistently adoptinganti-Hindu policies and asserted that the bill reflects an attempt to replenish the government's finances.

Yediyurappa expressed concerns and said that funds collected under the bill would be diverted for purposes other than temple renovation and the well-being of devotees, raising the possibility of unrest and deception.

"Under this, the government will collect 10 per cent of the income from temples earning over 10 million, this is nothing but poverty. The offering dedicated by the devotees to theGod and for 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," saidYediyurappa.

He questioned the selective targeting of Hindu temples and emphasisedthat other religions were not subjected to similar measures.

In response, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy accused the BJP of injecting religion into politics and asserted that the Congress has consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests.

Reddy also criticised the BJP for allegedly neglecting the financial matters of Hindu religious institutions during its rulein the statefrom 2008 to 2013 and 2019 to 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)