Anti-Hindu’: BJP slams Karnataka government for 10% tax on temples

Bengaluru. The Bharatiya Janata Party called the Congress government in Karnataka “anti-Hindu” after the latter passed the ‘Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024’ in the state assembly.

The bill empowers the government to collect 10 percent tax from temples that have revenues exceeding ₹1 crore and 5 percent from those with revenues ranging between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore.
Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa said the Congress government wanted to fill its depleted coffers by adopting anti-Hindu policies.

“The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers,” he said on X.

He said the collected funds will be used for “another purpose”.

“Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over ₹1 crore, this is nothing but poverty. The offering dedicated by the devotees for the knowledge of God and the development of the temple should be allocated for the renovation of the temple and for the convenience of the devotees. If it is allocated for another purpose, it is on the divine beliefs of the people. There will be violence and fraud,” he added.