An ‘editor’ gave the Karnataka budget a communal spin, but here’s what the numbers say

The graphic table accompanying the post breaks down district-wise temple revenues, totalling over ₹445 crore.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya swiftly reposted the editor’s post, adding his own take to it.

He wrote: “To take money from the Hindu temples and use it to fund the religious institutions of non-Hindu faiths is the standard SOP of ‘secular’ leaders like Siddharamaiah. Secularism, as practised by them, is not just a stick to brow-beat the Hindus, it is also a tool to financially enrich others at the cost of the Hindus. [sic]”

To take money from the Hindu temples and use it to fund the religious institutions of non Hindu faiths is the standard SOP of ‘secular’ leaders like Siddharamiah.

Secularism as practiced by them is not just a stick to brow beat the Hindu, it is also a tool to financially enrich… https://t.co/rYFxSzjadv

— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 16, 2024

Let’s delve into the budgetary allocations for diverse religious communities, their institutions, and their welfare to assess the veracity of the editor’s assertions.

Related: Karnataka govt allocates ₹100 crore to develop tourism in Hanuman’s ‘birthplace’

Endowment Department’s allocation 

Examining the Budget allocation for the Endowment Department this year and funds for development of Hindu religious sites shows that the Karnataka government has earmarked nearly ₹730 crore exclusively for it.

This includes a ₹100-crore grant for the development of Anjanadri Hill, along with the construction of well-equipped residential complexes at pilgrimage destinations such as Tirumala, Srisailam, Varanasi, and Guddapur.

“The construction work undertaken at a cost of ₹200 crore in Tirumala is nearing completion. The work in Srisailam at a cost ₹85 crore and at Guddapur at a cost of ₹11 crore are in progress. In the current year, construction work in Varanasi will be undertaken at a cost of ₹5 crore,” the budget said.

Also, a notification has been issued constituting the Sri Renuka Yellamma Tourism Development Board to conserve and develop areas in and around the Sri Renuka Yellamma Temple in Saundatti.

The Public Works Department (PWD) is expected to undertake a bridge-cum-barrage project near the Chikkanahalli village in the Raichur district at a cost of ₹158 crore to connect to Mantralayam, a pilgrim village in the Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.

Separate authorities will be established for the development of Sri Ghati Subramanya Temple in the Bengaluru Rural district and the Huligemma Temple in the Koppal district.

A “vision group” will be formed to provide basic facilities to 34,165 C-category historical temples without any income, and priests of 29,523 C-category temples who lost inam/non-inam land will receive a remittance of about ₹170 crore annually.

Also Read: Siddaramaiah presents ₹3.71 lakh crore budget: Here’s what each sector got

Budget allocation for multiple minority communities

In the 2024-25 Budget, a total of ₹393 crore has been allocated to develop minority communities in the state through the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC).

This includes ₹100 crore for WAQF property development, ₹10 crore for Mangaluru Haj Bhavan construction, ₹200 crore for Christian minority development, and ₹50 crore for Jain pilgrimage destinations.

Additionally, ₹2 crore will be provided for targeted schemes empowering the Sikligar community, and Sri Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara in Bidar will receive a development grant of ₹1 crore.

For the Minority communities’ welfare, an interest subsidy of 6 percent will be provided on loans up to ₹10 crore availed from the Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) for setting up new micro and small industries, and upgradation of the existing units.

Loans will be given through the KMDC, along with training through the Sericulture Department to financially support silk reelers belonging to Minority communities.

Women Self-Help Groups of Minority communities will be encouraged to engage in various types of self-employment activities and ₹10 crore will be allocated for such programmes.

Also Read: Karnataka Budget: CM strongly defends guarantee schemes

Minister refutes claims

Minister Ramalinga Reddy refuted the accusations by the mainstream media editor, asserting that funds from Hindu temples are exclusively used for their development, without any diversion.

He criticised the editor’s misleading approach, tagging MP Tejasvi Surya in his clarification.

“What kind of journalism is this? As a consulting editor of a reputed news channel, this is not the way to mislead the Kannadigas and the entire nation. The government and I have been repeatedly saying that the money from ENDOWMENT TEMPLES will be used exclusively for the same ENDOWMENT TEMPLES; not even a penny can be utilised for another temple. The funds collected at the temple will be allocated solely to that specific temple, [sic]” he clarified in his tweet on X.

He added, “This type of tweet or statement is just another political stunt as MP elections are near. The same was done during Assembly elections, but our Karnataka people know the truth and see through the Hindu drama of BJP friends. The state budget presented by CM Siddaramaiah is people-friendly and for the people, by the people, as BJP friends won’t have the option to oppose the budget, making it another theatrical act. [sic]”

“Instead of this false narrative, ask the BJP party and its 25-plus MPs to request the Union government to allocate our share of the tax-paid money to Karnataka,” the minister posted.

@RShivshankar

What kind of journalism is this? As a consulting editor of a reputed news channel, this is not the way to mislead the Kannadigas and the entire nation.

The government and I have been repeatedly saying that the Money from ENDOWMENT TEMPLES will be used… https://t.co/hxTwPWSMRK

— Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) February 16, 2024

Meanwhile, founder of the fact checking website Alt News, Mohammed Zubair, questioned why there shouldn’t be an FIR against the “News Presenter” for misleading people on social media by trying to communalise the budget allocation.

Also Read: Karnataka govt committed to constitutional classification of quota for SCs

Editor replies

Responding to the Minister, the editor replied, “With great respect Sir, I am not saying you are diverting funds from Hindu temples. In fact, you can’t do that by law. What I am saying is why should any state government (even BJP ones) be in the business of using state finances to develop, maintain or upgrade the places of worship etc, of any denomination? Why should they be controlling temples? Secularism means a separation of state and religion. Unfortunately, in India, we’ve blurred the lines. I am sure you’ll agree. [sic]”

Speaking to South First, Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the government has no control over temples.

He said, “Since 2011, the Budget allocation amount meant for the Endowment Department has been solely used for the development of temples under all categories falling under the Endowment Department. Similarly, the funds allocated in the Budget for Minorities’ welfare will be solely used only for religious and cultural welfare activities for the Minorities.”

He asked, “Where were these journalists when Basavaraj Bommai had granted government funds of ₹600 crore to the Endowment Department while the BJP was ruling? Bommai had also promised to give ₹100 crore for an Anjaneya Temple in Gangavati, however, he managed to give only ₹22 crore.”

The exodus of BJP legislators from the 2024-25 Budget session was not the only act that caused embarrassment for the ruling Congress government in Karnataka.

Subsequent stories on the Budget from some mainstream media outlets have further fueled discomfort for the grand old party, prompting the concerned minister to issue a clarification debunking the misleading news.