Temple funds are not being diverted for other purposes: Dinesh Gundu Rao

Mangaluru: District in-Charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday claimed that attempts are being made to spread false information alleging that revenue earmarked for endowment temples is being diverted for other purposes. In reality, the government utilises revenue from Muzrai temples exclusively for their development and not for any other purpose, he added.

Speaking during a consultation meeting with the management members of temples under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department at Town Hall in Mangaluru, he said this propaganda is part of a political agenda. “A few organisations are using temple-related issues for political gain, which should not be allowed,” he said.

The Congress government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had increased tasthik from Rs 24,000 to Rs 36,000 per year, and later to Rs 48,000 during his previous term. Now, the government has further increased it to Rs 72,000.

“There is a conspiracy to portray the State government as anti-Hindu for political reasons,” he alleged.

He said the State government has passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to utilise a portion of revenue from wealthy Hindu temples for the development of temples with lower income. However, the BJP opposed the Bill, and the Governor, who failed to give assent to it, has now referred it to the President of India for approval.

According to the Bill, 10 per cent of the gross income of temples whose annual income exceeds Rs 1 crore will be contributed to a common pool. Five per cent of the gross income of temples with an annual income between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore will also go into the pool.

MLC Manjunath Bhandari said temple management committee members had long been demanding a consultation meeting to understand their roles and responsibilities. He appealed to the Minister to issue identity cards to all management committee members. While A-grade temples issue ID cards, many C-grade temples are not in a position to do so.

“There is a malicious campaign that revenue from endowment temples is being misused. To counter this, all endowment temples should install notice boards clearly stating that no temple funds are being diverted for other purposes,” he said.

MLC Ivan D’Souza added that dharma purifies the mind, and politics should stay away from places of worship. He urged management members to stay vigilant against misinformation regarding temple funds.

Shwetha Palli, Executive Officer of Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple, noted that 493 temples in Dakshina Kannada come under the Muzrai Department, of which 10 generate the highest income.

DC Darshan H V, ZP CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbheri, and others were present.