New Delhi: The Congress executive in Karnataka confronted a fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Birthday party (BJP) on Thursday after it handed the ‘Karnataka Hindu Non secular Establishments and Charitable Endowments Invoice 2024’ within the state meeting. The invoice, which imposes a tax on donations gained by means of Hindu temples, was once likened to the Jizya Tax (a ancient tax imposed on non-Muslims beneath Islamic rule) by means of a number of BJP leaders. The passage of the invoice sparked a heated trade of phrases between the BJP and Congress leaders. In step with the invoice, the federal government will accumulate 10 in keeping with cent from temples that experience earnings exceeding Rs 1 crore and 5 in keeping with cent from those who have earnings between Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore.
The BJP accused the state executive of imposing ‘Anti-Hindu’ insurance policies and exploiting the temple revenues to fill its personal coffers. “Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology within the guise of secularism, has solid its evil eyes at the Temple revenues. In the course of the Hindu Non secular Endowments modification act, it is attempting to siphon off donations in addition to choices from Hindu temples and spiritual establishments with the intention to fill its empty coffers,” mentioned State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa on X.
Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology within the guise of secularism, has solid its evil eyes at the Temple revenues. In the course of the Hindu Non secular Endowments modification act, it is attempting to siphon off donations in addition to choices from Hindu temples… %.twitter.com/Vzf9RQTaP4
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 22, 2024
“Below this, the federal government will accumulate 10% of the source of revenue from temples incomes over Rs 1 crore, that is not anything however theft. The providing made by means of the devotees for the worship of God and the improvement of the temple will have to be used for the renovation of the temple and the ease of the devotees. Whether it is diverted for another objective, it’s an attack at the religion of the folks. There might be violence and fraud,” he added.
Yediyurappa additionally puzzled why most effective Hindu temples are being centered and no longer the earning of different religions.
BJP’s Amit Malviya Calls Cong ‘New Muslim League
BJP chief and IT Cellular Head Amit Malviya additionally lambasted the Siddaramaiah executive’s transfer and when compared the taxation of Hindu temples to Jizya tax.
Taking to X, Malviya mentioned, “In a surprising transfer, Congress Government in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Non secular Establishments and Charitable Endowment invoice, permitting, amongst different issues: to nominate non Hindus to Temple agree with. What sort of nonsense is that this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the neighborhood? it additionally mandates that Hindu Temples pay tax as much as 10% of the donation gained. It is like Jizya .
In a surprising transfer, Congress Government in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Non secular Establishments and Charitable Endowment invoice, permitting, amongst different issues:
– to nominate non Hindus to Temple agree with. What sort of nonsense is that this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the… %.twitter.com/JQDNjGibp2
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 22, 2024
“The above two amendments suggest that Temple source of revenue will also be used for the rest. For example, the Temple fund may just doubtlessly be used for development partitions of a kabristan. If this doesn’t get up the Hindus to the truth that Congress is the brand new Muslim League, not anything else will. Forestall vote casting for the Congress!,” Malviya added.
Congress Defends Invoice, Questions BJP’s Observe Report
In line with the BJP’s allegations, Congress chief and Karnataka executive minister Ramalinga Reddy defended the invoice and puzzled the BJP’s observe document of defending Hindu pursuits. He accused the BJP of taking part in spiritual politics and branding the Congress as anti-Hindu. Reddy claimed that Congress has at all times been the actual champion of Hinduism and has safeguarded temples and Hindu pursuits over time.
“Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, It is obvious that BJP at all times pursues political positive aspects by means of alleging that Congress is anti-Hindu. On the other hand, we, the Congress, imagine ourselves the actual advocates of Hinduism as a result of, over time, Congress governments have persistently safe temples and Hindu pursuits,” he mentioned.
“Did your BJP executive forget its tasks between 2008 and 2013, in addition to from 2019 to 2023? It turns out they omitted the revenues of Hindu spiritual establishments and charitable endowments, in spite of the lifestyles of acts or expenses in position since 2001,” he added.
“So, weren’t you additionally careless referring to Hindu temple revenues?” Ramalinga Reddy requested.
Allegations Misrepresented: Siddaramaiah
CM Siddaramaiah mentioned that the allegations in regards to the Karnataka executive’s amendments to the Hindu Non secular Establishments and Charitable Endowment Invoice “seem to be misrepresented”, “aiming most effective at deceptive the general public” and “polarizing folks alongside communal traces for political leverage.”
CM, in a chain of lengthy tweets, mentioned, “The allegations in regards to the Karnataka executive’s amendments to the Hindu Non secular seem to be misrepresented for political achieve”.
“The baseless allegations by means of BJP leaders are aimed most effective at deceptive the general public and polarizing folks alongside communal traces for political leverage. BJP leaders will have to feel embarrassment about their unethical practices. Their disservice to the folks of Karnataka won’t ever be forgiven. Via deceptive the general public, BJP leaders need the adolescence of the rustic to desert their jobs and battle an imaginary struggle, only to learn the BJP politically,” alleged Karnataka CM.