Setback For Siddaramaiah Government In Karnataka As BJP-JDS Dominated Legislative Council Defeats Bill On Temple Funds

In a setback for the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led Congress government in Karnataka, a bill that mandated a 10 per cent tax on the income of temples that have revenues of over Rs 1 crore was defeated in the state Legislative Council on Friday (23 February).

This comes two days after the bill was passed in the state assembly.

The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2024, was defeated by the combined BJP-JDS opposition in the legislative council on Friday (23 February) after it was put to vote by deputy chairman M K Pranesh.

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The bill aimed to tax temples with revenues between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore at a rate of 5 per cent, and those with revenues over Rs 1 crore at 10 per cent.

The legislation, proposing a Common Pool Fund under Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department for aiding religious activities in Karnataka, has drawn heavy criticism from the BJP, which has accused the government of stealing the wealth of rich temples of the state.

The BJP, which has a stronger presence in the legislative council compared to the ruling Congress, played a key role in the bill's defeat.

The BJP-JDS coalition has a clear majority in the 75-member house. While the BJP has 34 members, Congress has 30, JDS 8, and 1 is an Independent, besides the chairman and one vacant seat in the council.

The bill sparked a huge controversy in Karnataka with the opposition BJP accusing the Congress of implementing 'Anti-Hindu' policies.

The Bill had earlier been passed by the Assembly where the Congress government has 135 out of 224 members.

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra has accused the Congress  government of “casting its eye” on the incomes of Hindu temples to fill its own coffers.

“The question from crores of devotees is why is the government eyeing the incomes of Hindu temples when it is not interested in the revenue of other religions?” he said, Indian Express reported.

In defence of the bill, state ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Dinesh Gundu Rao criticized the BJP's opposition to it. Reddy highlighted that the BJP, during its tenure in 2011, had itself made amendments to the bill.

Rao argued that the bill was intended to support smaller temples, accusing the BJP of misleading the public.

After the bill was cleared in the lower house of the state, former Chief Minister and BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa questioned why only Hindu temples are being scrutinised and not the incomes of other religions.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah countered allegations against the amendments as misleading and aimed at "polarizing people" along communal lines for political leverage.

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