The BJP has strongly opposed the new law amendment in Karnataka to impose a 10 percent tax on temples.
The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Institutions (Amendment) Bill was passed yesterday in the ongoing budget session in Karnataka. After this amendment, temples will have to pay 10 per cent of amount if their total annual income exceeds Rs 1 crore. Temples with income between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore will have to pay 5 per cent.
The opposition BJP and former prime minister Deve Gowda’s secular Janata Dal have strongly opposed this. They insisted that this amendment should be withdrawn immediately.
BJP’s criticism for tax on temple
Karnataka State BJP President Vijayendra Criticized that the ruling Congress government has an anti-Hindu mentality. They are reeling under inadequate funds due to improper governance and that is why the temples are taxed. Devotees expect temple income to be used to renovate and maintain the temple. But the government plans to collect taxes from temples and use them for other purposes can never be accepted.
Chief Minister’s response
To this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah replied that this law of collecting money from the temple is not new. The Congress government altered the existing tax slab for temples from 5% to 10%. But the BJP criticizes it as an anti-Hindu law by spreading false information for their political gain. BJP leaders are misleading people with baseless lies and they should be ashamed of this act of communal politics.
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