Congress seeks to counter BJP's 'anti-Hindu' charge in first-ever Muzrai committees' meet

Central agencies are compromised, says Dinesh

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

IN a strategic move to counter the BJP's growing narrative that the Congress-led government in Karnataka is "anti-Hindu," Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday convened the state's first-ever meeting of Muzrai temple management committees at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall in Mangaluru.

Positioned as a direct response to the BJP's allegation that temple funds are being diverted for the benefit of other religious communities, the meeting served as a platform for Congress leaders to reaffirm their party's commitment to Hindu temple development and religious harmony.

"Misinformation is being systematically spread that funds from Hindu temples are being used for the development of mosques and churches," said Minister Rao. "This is not only false, but even sections of the national media have unfortunately echoed these baseless claims."

He highlighted the historical and financial support extended by the Congress government to temples, pointing out that it was under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's leadership that the tasdik grant — financial aid given to temples — was increased multiple times: from Rs 24,000 to Rs 36,000, then to Rs 48,000, and most recently to Rs 72,000. He also noted that the tasdik system itself was introduced by his father, former CM the late R. Gundu Rao, as compensation following the abolition of the Inam land grants.