BJP-VHP accuse Karnataka government of trying to take over 162 private temples; minister seeks proof

Claims of the Muzrai Department issuing notices to 162 temples in Karnataka were made by several right-wing handles on social media — especially the X (formerly Twitter).

They were accompanied by a photocopy of a notice apparently issued by the department on 5 December to Sree Kannika Parameshwari Temple in Ballari. While social media handles claimed that the letter was indicative of State government taking over its administration, the contents of the letter suggest that it was a communication about administrator of another temple – Shree Kanakadurgamma temple in Ballari – taking additional charge of Shre Kannika Parameshwari temple, until a new administrative committee is formed or for a period of six months, whichever is earlier.

Girish Bharadwaj, a VHP member and a social activist posted on X: “The Karnataka Government has issued notices to 162 selective revenue-yielding privately managed temples to bring them under the Endowments Act (HRCE). In Karnataka, 34,562 temples are already in the clutches of the Government. No Masjid or church is managed/ controlled by the Karnataka Government. #FreeHinduTemples [sic]”

The VHP member urged the Karnataka government to immediately withdraw the notices, claiming that otherwise they would take the matter to the high court.

“No Political Party should get into Temple affairs, Hindus are not second-grade citizens in the country [sic],” Bharadwaj posted on X.

Copy of notice. I urge the Karnataka Government to immediately withdraw the notices issued to temples else we will question the same in Court and shame them.

No Political Party should get into Temple affairs, Hindus are not second-grade citizens in the country. pic.twitter.com/MRUb07JEVw

— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishvhp) December 20, 2023

Also read: Karnataka govt withdraws order stopping grants to temples

The reactions

As the claims went viral on social media with BJP leaders, right-wing handles attached the Congress government in Karnataka, for what they said was a brazen move.

“Things are getting ugly for Hindus. If we still keep quiet, slavery is written all over.. Do not we have competent enough lawyers to fight this case? Why is it becoming such difficult to free our temples from government control [sic],” a netizen posted.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra posted: “The Karnataka Congress Government’s notice to 162 revenue yielding, privately managed Hindu temples to bring them under the Endowments Act is politically motivated. The selective targeting of Hindu temples raises serious questions about the Congress’ motives. Temples are not the government’s personal ATM & I strongly object to this unjust and biased interference in Hindu religious affairs & politicization of our sacred worship places. [sic]”

The Karnataka Congress Government’s notice to 162 revenue yielding, privately managed Hindu temples to bring them under the Endowments Act is politically motivated.

The selective targeting of Hindu temples raises serious questions about the Congress’ motives.

Temples are not…

— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) December 20, 2023

Reacting to the claims, VHP member Girish Bharadwaj told South First that this problem was existent not only in Karnataka but throughout India.

“When our fundamental rights guarantee us to manage our temples and religious places, it should be enforced. Unfortunately, most of the revenue-making temples are now under government control. Around 35,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, around 21,000 temples in Andhra Pradesh, and around 34,500 temples in Karnataka are under government control,” Bharadwaj told South First.

He claimed that no party was working to bring temples out of the government’s clutches.

In Karnataka, temples were Grouped as A, B and C depending on the amount of revenue they generated, he said.

“There was a time in 2018 when the VHP raised its voice over a scheme called Aradhana, where temples’ funds were given to other religious institutions for their development,” he said.

“Now, the question is, out of these 34,500 temples, the government is unable to manage the administration of around 24,000-26,000 temples, which are under the C category because they do not generate enough revenue. With this being the case, the government is now attempting to take over more temples, which is unacceptable,” said Bharadwaj.

The Endowments Act states that temples can be taken over by the government if the administration fails or when there are allegations of corruption against the trust, management, or temple authorities.

“At present, there are no such complaints, and they have still issued notices to take over 162 temples. We do not know the idea or the agenda behind this move,” claimed Bharadwaj.

“All 162 temples that are to be taken over are revenue-generating temples that are not grouped under any category as they are private temples at present. They generate money and that is the reason the Endowments Department is eyeing them,” he added.

Also read: Sharda temple builds bridges between faiths and regions

Minister debunks claims, deems them fake

Karnataka Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy told South First that the Congress government in Karnataka had no intentions of taking over any temple in the state.

Talking about the notice issued to the Sree Kanikka Parameshwari Temple in Ballari, he clarified that the matter had been in court since 2003, and that the high court had ruled twice that the decision of the Muzrai Department to take over the temple was correct.

The high court also dismissed the case when the temple management moved the court again. Hence, the notice was served by the department to take over its administration, Reddy explained.

“The claims that our government has issued notices to 162 temples are false and baseless. Let them (the BJP-VHP) put out the list of these 162 temples. We will respond to it. The BJP and its coteries are involved in spreading false propaganda based on inputs from their Nagpur Whatsapp University,” Ramalinga Reddy told South First.

The minister also asserted that his government and the Muzrai department would be delighted to allow the 34,500-odd temple administrations to be adopted and taken care of by the BJP or the VHP. “Let them do the development works,” Reddy said.

ಕೆಲ ಹಿಂದೂ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ಸುಳ್ಳು ನಿರಾಧಾರ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪ್ರೇರಿತ ಆರೋಪವನ್ನು ,
ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ @BYVijayendra ಅವರಿಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೊರತೆ ಇದೆ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ನೋಟೀಸ್ ಆಗಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಖಾಸಗಿ ದೇವಾಲಯವನ್ನು ಮುಜರಾಯಿ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡಿಸುವ ವಿಷಯ ಬಂದಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ , ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ…

— Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) December 20, 2023

Meanwhile, sources from the Muzrai Department told South First that they tend to receive complaints against several temple authorities, and at those junctures, they were empowered to inquire into the matter and issue notices.

“Whenever there is an allegation of trust irregularities or financial misappropriation, we conduct an inquiry. If the allegation is proven, we are empowered to appoint an administrator who oversees the temple administration and its finances. The Ballari case was a routine notice after the high court’s ruling in favour of the Muzrai Department,” a senior official from the department told South First.