Siddaramaiah said the allegations regarding the amendments to the bill “appear to be misrepresented”.

Bengaluru:

In a blow to the Congress-led government in Karnataka, a bill to impose 10 per cent tax on the income of temples with revenue above Rs 1 crore failed in the state Legislative Council late today evening. This comes two days after the bill was passed in the state assembly.

The bill sparked a major controversy in Karnataka with the opposition BJP accusing the Congress of implementing ‘anti-Hindu’ policies.

In Karnataka, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has more numbers than the ruling government in the Legislative Council or the Upper House. Congress has 30 MLCs, BJP has 35 MLCs, eight MLCs are from JD(S) and one is an independent candidate. One seat is vacant in the council.

The Karnataka government passed the ‘Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Amendment Bill 2024’, which allows the state to collect 10 per cent tax from temples with revenue above Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent from temples with revenue between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. Gives orders to do. 1 crore.

Following criticism over the government’s amendments to the bill, state ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Dinesh Gundu Rao defended the move and criticized the BJP for opposing it.

Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, alleged that the BJP is “anti-Hindu” and claimed that the party which was in power in 2011 had amended the bill.

“We are not anti-Hindu. In fact, BJP is anti-Hindu. This law came into existence in 2003. In 2011 they made some amendments in it. At that time there were about 34,000 temples worth up to Rs 5 lakh – no money was given to Dharmika Parishad . From Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, there are about 193 ‘B grade’ temples – they have to give 5 per cent. Above Rs 10 lakh, there are about 205 temples – they have to give 10 per cent. He said in the Assembly in 2011 Approved this amendment. Who is anti-Hindu? BJP,” he said.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP should understand that the bill is for the benefit of temples, alleging that while the government is trying to help small temples, the BJP is trying to mislead.

After the bill was approved in the state’s lower house, former Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa raised questions as to why only Hindu temples are being investigated and not the income of other religions.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the allegations regarding the amendments in the bill appear to be “misconceived”, “aimed only at misleading the public” and “polarizing people on communal lines for political gains”.