Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented the state budget last week, outlining key allocations that have sparked a mix of reactions from political and religious circles. The budget notably emphasizes development initiatives targeting minority groups, drawing both praise and criticism from different communities.
The Congress Party has shown its vote bank and religious politics with its budget allocation of Rs 100 crores for the development of Waqf properties, Rs 10 crores for the construction of a Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru, and Rs 200 crores targeting the Christian community. These allocations have sparked controversy, especially considering the substantial annual donations averaging Rs 450 crores contributed by Hindu devotees to 400 ‘A & B’ category temples under the purview of the Karnataka Endowment (Muzrai) Department.
Karnataka boasts of the maximum number of temples under the Endowment Department, with the maximum contribution for the state government, with the Congress party seeming least concerned about Hindu development initiatives. Despite the substantial funds received from Hindu temples, the Congress-led government shows little to no inclination towards addressing Hindu concerns or investing in their welfare. Instead, the government’s budgetary allocations consistently favor minority communities, especially Muslims and Christians.
The Congress government’s allocation of funds received from Hindu temples to the development of minorities is seen as a blatant demonstration of vote bank politics. This move has drawn sharp criticism and condemnation from Hindu activists and the people of Karnataka. Despite generating revenue of more than Rs 450 crore from Hindu temples, the government’s actions are unacceptable, BJP MLA Tejaswi Surya said amid budget protests. He further continued that, the Siddaramaiah-led government is exploiting the Hindu community as a means to financially benefit other communities.
Just before the budget, on February 7th, the Congress-led Karnataka government, authorized funding for the construction of compound walls around waqf properties across the state. The approved budget amounts to a total of Rs 31.84 crore, intended for securing 416 properties. Although the state government asserts in its circular that the initiative aims to safeguard ‘waqf properties’, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have voiced criticism against the move. Some political leaders and groups have welcomed the budget’s focus on minority communities, hailing it as a step towards inclusive growth and social justice. They commend the government’s efforts to address the specific needs and concerns of minority groups through targeted allocations.
However, the budget’s heavy emphasis on minority-centric programs has faced criticism from certain quarters. Opponents argue that the disproportionate allocation of funds raises questions about equity and fairness in resource distribution. Some political experts also expressed concerns about the potential politicization of minority welfare initiatives.
