Facing Flak For ‘Muslim Appeasement’, Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah Govt Plans Aid For Vaishno Devi Pilgrims
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The Congress government has also decided to safeguard assets belonging to state-run Hindu temples, remove any encroachments, and provide money for this
The Karnataka government already provides money for devotees going to Kashi, Gaya, and the pilgrim circuit in southern India. File image/PTI
Even as Karnataka’s ruling Congress has come under severe criticism from the opposition over “Muslim appeasement” in the Waqf land and quota controversies, in a move being seen as a damage control effort, the Siddaramaiah government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to every pilgrim from the state visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
Not just that, it has decided to safeguard assets belonging to state-run Hindu temples, remove any encroachments, and provide money for this.
The administration has also decided to place signboards in all government-run temples showing the details of various Muzrai initiatives (referring to allowances granted for religious or charitable purposes) and a declaration that cash donations at temples will be used only for those shrines alone.
The decisions were taken at the Rajya Dharmika Parishat meeting chaired by Muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy.
The Karnataka government already provides money for devotees going to Kashi, Gaya, and the pilgrim circuit in southern India.
Sources had earlier told CNN-News18 that there is a “proposal” to give reservations for Muslims in public contracts for construction (civil) up to Rs 1 crore on the lines of reservations given to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. This comes as the state government has already provided a 24 per cent quota to SC/ST and certain backward classes in the government contracts.
The chief minister’s office later cleared the air and said that there have been demands for reservation, but there is “no proposal” in this regard.
CNN-News18 also exclusively accessed revenue records that show the Waqf Board’s name was inserted in land records of 44 properties in Vijayapura recently. Land records were changed without giving notices in several cases, leaving the farmers in the Indi taluk shocked. Reacting to the controversy, chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified that “no farmer will be evicted”.
