Fact-check: Did the Karnataka government grant temple resources for minority development?

Temple administration in Southern states is mired in political controversies. Following colonial tradition, temples in South India are run by states. Against this backdrop, many allegations are leveled, occasionally insinuating temple funds are siphoned off for other purposes.
Such a claim went viral recently.

Claim

Using a screen grab of a TV debate in CNN News18, some users claimed that as per RTI response, out of 445 crore collected levying tax to Hindu temples 330 crores have been allocated for minority development. They rallied their frustration against secularism being used for minority appeasement.

While some users criticized the anti-Hindu attitudes of the Congress government, others wanted the temples to be free from state control.

more posts could be seen here and here.

Fact-check

The DFRAC team first analyzed the screenshot shared with the claim. Using a reverse image search, the team found that the screen grab was taken from a TV debate on CNN News18 channel on February 16, 2024. The debate was on government budget allocation for minority development.

Watch the TV debate here.

While the anchor himself admitted that the data is from 2021-22 he didn’t explain the source. The team couldn’t find any official or credible reports suggesting that temple money was used for other purposes in Karnataka, as shown in the debate.
Thus, it became clear that the screenshot shared was not RTI reply as claimed by users, but a screen grab of debate on CNN News18. But it was about discussion on the 2024-25 Karnataka budget.
Probing further, the team went through the official budget document of the 2024-25 Karnataka government budget. Again, no details were given in this regard in the budget. The budget has allocated financial assistance to minority developments and temple management. As per government documents, the budget allocated 10 crores for Mangalore Haj House, 50 crores for Jain temples, and 200 crores for the development of the Christian community. The government has allocated money to construct residential complexes at different religious sites including Tirupati and Varanasi. Besides, the allocation has been made for different temples in the state like Sri Ghati Subramayaswamy in Bengaluru Rural.

Read budget document here.

Next, the team studied the provisions for the management of temples in the state. Temples in the state are run under The Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, of 1997. The act gives details on the financial aspects of the temple management. Articles 18 to 22 of the Act have clearly stated that temple resources in any form can’t be diverted to other purposes other than serving the interest of the temples.

Then, the team found an explanation from Ramalinga Reddy, Minister of Muzrai from the Revenue Department of Karnataka on his official X handle. He has beyond doubt rejected the claim. “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 utilized for another temple. “, the minister said in the statement. He dismissed the tweets as a political stunt by the BJP.

Link

Conclusion

From the detailed analysis of the DFRAC, the viral messages criticizing the Karnataka government for diverting temple funds for minority developments are misleading. The screenshot is not from the RTI response, as claimed by the posts, but from a CNN News18 TV debate. As per current rules, the diversion of temple funds for other purposes is illegal.