After claiming that temples in Karnataka see more footfall from women devotees due to the free bus ride scheme, the Congress government issued an order to block grants released for temple works. The Muzrai department minister claimed that it was a misunderstanding and directed officials to withdraw the order after Hindu outfits and BJP criticised the move. The Bommai-led BJP government had allocated Rs 1000 crores for the development and renovation of temples and mathas in its last budget.
Basavarajendra, the Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments(HRCE) aka Muzrai department in Karnataka issued an order to all the Deputy Commissioners to stop grants released for temples. The order also directed them to stop the work if it has not commenced or if less than 50% of the work was complete. As per a report from The South First it read, “If administrative approval for a 50 per cent of fund allocation is granted, it should be immediately halted and a recommendation to deny the grant should be made. In the case of proposed administrative approval for the grant, the process of approval should be blocked.”
The order was widely shared on social media and drew criticism. Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal tweeted, “Siddaramaiah’s anti-Hindu stance is being proved each passing day. The government has given crores of rupees to Waqf and Minorities Development”.
ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರ ಹಿಂದೂ ವಿರೋಧಿ ನಿಲುವುಗಳು ದಿನದಿಂದ ದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಬೀತಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) August 18, 2023
ವಕ್ಫ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣದ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ ಅನುದಾನ ನೀಡಿದ್ದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಈಗ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳ ಅನುದಾನವನ್ನು ತಡೆಹಿಡಿದಿರುವುದು ಹಿಂದೂ ವಿರೋಧಿ ದೋರಣೆಯಲ್ಲದೇ ಮತ್ತೇನು?
ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳ ಅನುದಾನ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದು ನನ್ನ ಆಗ್ರಹ.
Shashikala Jolle, BJP MLA and former Muzrai minister said, “The government should not act differently when it comes to temples. Our government had given grants for the development of all temples. We could not release the remaining grants due to the Assembly elections. This government has the responsibility to release those funds and should engage in politics over it. If the government fails to revoke its order, we will launch a massive protest.”
As the move invited widespread criticism, Congress government’s Muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed that he had only sought a status report of works going on in temples under his department and that the Commissioner misunderstood his intention. Speaking to The New Indian Express he said, “I had asked officials to furnish details of ongoing works and work orders for which funds are not released. I had sought this as we have to seek the Finance Department’s nod for funds. Our intention is not to stop work or funds to temples. If needed, we are ready to give more funds.”
It appears to be a damage control measure as the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has been reversing every decision taken by the BJP government beginning with the hijab ban, anti-cow slaughter law and anti-conversion law. Its decision to scrap the National Education Policy and ‘revise’ the changes introduced by the Bommai government in the school curriculum from next year are also among them.
Rather than taking it as mere political war, it should be seen from the perspective of attacking core values. Protecting cows, stopping deceitful conversion and protecting temples form the core of Hindu values. Whenever Congress assumes power it attacks these core values as soon as it is sworn in. It should be kept in mind that the outgoing BJP government had allocated Rs 1000 crores for the development and renovation of temples under the control of the Muzrai department.
