Temples are the property of the government, said DK Shivakumar (File)
Bangalore:
Congress Karnataka unit president DK Shivakumar today termed the BJP government’s plan to free Hindu temples from state control as a historic blunder and said his party would not allow it.
He said that at present the temples owned by the government are the property of the state and its treasury.
“They are committing a historical blunder. How can a muzrai (department) or government temple be given to the local people for administration? It is the property of the government, a property of the treasury, crores of rupees are collected by these temples. What Political stand Are they trying to look at some other states?” DK Shivakumar said.
Talking to reporters, he said that this cannot happen in Karnataka and Congress will not allow it.
“We are holding a meeting of all senior Congress leaders on January 4, during which we will discuss this and put forth our stand,” he said.
The Karnataka government will bring in a law aimed at freeing Hindu temples from the laws and regulations that currently govern them, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said while addressing a working meeting of the state BJP on Wednesday.
“I want to tell this executive that our government will bring a law to this effect before the budget session. We will free our temples from such laws and conditions. There will be nothing but regulation. We will ensure that they are free to do so.” are managed,” he had said.
This is seen as a major move by the Bommai government, as it has got the controversial Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, known as the Anti-Conversion Bill, passed in the Assembly ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Is.
However, the bill is yet to become law as it is pending for introduction and passage in the Legislative Council.
34,563 temples in the state come under the Muzrai (Hindu Religious Endowment) department, which are classified as Grade A, B and C on the basis of their revenue generation.
207 temples with annual revenue more than Rs 25 lakh fall under Category A, 139 temples between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh fall under Category B, and 34,217 temples with annual revenue less than Rs 5 lakh under Category C come with.
Many Hindu organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have long demanded that temples be freed from government control and handed over to Hindu society.
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