Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the allegations regarding the Karnataka government’s amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill were “misrepresented”, “only aimed at misleading the public” and “on communal grounds for political gain”. “Seems to polarize people.”

The bill mandates the state to collect 10 per cent tax from temples with revenue above Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent tax from temples with revenue between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.

Accusing the BJP of misleading the public, the Karnataka CM said in a series of long tweets, ‘It seems that the Karnataka government’s allegations of Hindu religious amendments have been misrepresented for political gain.’

The Karnataka CM further said in his post that since the enactment of the Act in 1997, there has always been an order to create a common pool.

“After the amendment, the contribution to the Fund will be (i) ten percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds one crore rupees; (ii) five percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds ten crore rupees.” exceeds lakhs of rupees but not more than Rs one crore; and (iii) grants received from the state government. The recent amendment was made only to increase the amount of the general pool,” the Karnataka CM added in his post.

The allegations regarding the Karnataka Government’s amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill appear to be misrepresented for political gain. Since the enactment of the Act in 1997, there has always been a mandate to create a common pool. before this… pic.twitter.com/HQt0JxjU5j

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) 22 February 2024

He alleged that BJP leaders want the youth of the country to leave their jobs and fight an imaginary war, so that BJP can get political benefits.

“The baseless allegations of BJP leaders are only aimed at misleading the public and polarizing people on communal lines for political gains. BJP leaders should be ashamed of their unethical practices. Their disrespect towards the people of Karnataka has never been forgiven. Misleading the public, the Karnataka Chief Minister alleged, “BJP leaders want the youth of the country to leave their jobs and fight an imaginary war only to bring political benefits to the BJP.”

Hitting back at state BJP unit chief BY Vijayendra for labeling the Karnataka government “anti-Hindu” for implementing such policies, the Karnataka CM said, “It is clear that @BJP4Karnataka has given its state president’s post to him.” Reserved for people who have a tendency to lie. @BYVijayendr appears to be well suited for this post, or perhaps he is competing with other BJP leaders to retain it. Vijayendra should be ashamed! A His credibility as a leader is falling, just like the Indian rupee is falling under Narendra Modi.

While deliberating on the draft law on Thursday, Chandrashekhar told ANI that the bill was brought to fill the ‘ATM’ of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar.

The BJP leader said, ‘While Rahul Gandhi is on a Bharat Jodo tour in the country, the Congress government in Karnataka has brought the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Assembly to fund Siddaramaiah’s ATM. ‘ DK Shivakumar. This marks a new low in appeasement politics. We will oppose this bill.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)