Himachal Govt Asks Donation From Temples, BJP Calls It 'Shocking'
The Himachal Pradesh government's request for financial assistance from temples has sparked criticism from the BJP.
The Himachal Pradesh government has drawn flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party after it urged temples for financial relief. The government is battling a monetary crisis triggered by a series of devastating landslides and flash floods over the past two years.
In a bid to mitigate the crisis, the government has turned to temples for financial support asking religious institutions to fund certain government welfare schemes, reported NDTV.
In a notification dated January 29, the state's Social Justice and Empowerment Department sought "contributions for charitable activities and welfare schemes run by the state".
Funds were specifically sought for two specific programmes, Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashray and Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana, which were notified in February 2023 and September 2024.
The notification stated: "The various temple trusts functioning under the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions Charitable Endowment Act keep making contributions... may make contributions towards the Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashray and Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana, to provide funds for the above-mentioned welfare schemes."
BJP Slams Move
Former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur slammed the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dispensation for its temple outreach. Thakur accused the ruling Congress of taking money from temples - they had been directed to "send all available funds" - after making adverse comments about 'Sanatan dharma'.
"The government has issued an order, followed by repeated follow-ups, urging temple trusts to send all available funds as soon as possible," he stated, "This is shocking and unfortunate."
He further said that had the funds been needed during a crisis, such as during COVID or natural disasters, and directed to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for humanitarian aid... "that would have been understandable."
"On the one hand, Congress' leaders insult 'Sanatan dharma' and its followers and, on the other, they want to use temple donations to fund their policies," Thakur said calling the decision 'bizarre".
Himachal Govt Hits Back
The Sukhu government hit back at the BJP with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi defending the move. He pointed out the previous government - led by Thakur - had taken money from temples during the pandemic; referring to the Kali Bari Mandir donating Rs 25 lakh to a relief fund in April 2020.
Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh also responded stressing that the donations had been sought from the public at large and not just temples.
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