JOIN US Notwithstanding the grim view taken by the CAG, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Thursday announced financial assistance to more than 25 religious institutions.
During his reply to a discussion on budget proposals in the Assembly, Shettar declared funds of Rs 25 crore to religious institutions including Bhalki Vachanasahitya Vidyalaya, Sindhagi Devgaon Mutt, Nonavinakere Mutt, Koppal Gavi Siddeshwara Mutt and Nidumamidi Mutt.
The chief minister has already made an allocation of close to Rs 200 crore to mutts in his budget.
This aside, the chief minister also announced Rs five crore to Balagangadharanatha Swamy Trust and Rs two crore to Uttaradi Mutt goshala. Even as Shettar completed reading out the long list of institutions getting funds from the government, legislators whose constituencies were ignored appealed to him to consider those as well.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah took exception to the announcements made by the chief minister and charged the government with splurging taxpayers’ money.
Shettar, however, defended the largesse saying that mutts and other institutions were doing public service and the government has extended its assistance by giving them grants.