Karnataka Govt funding of Temples is a matter of serious concern

Madam/Sir

The move of Karnataka Government to allot 130 crores for Temples and mutts in the state is a matter of disgust and serious concern. The ground for allocation is that this will please the Gods. The Chief Minister said that this is to seek forgiveness for the sins of previous Governments, to bring prosperity for the state by more rains and food production by making the Gods happy. This is blatant promotion of blind faith, going against the values of our constitution, which directs the state to promote rational thought and oppose the blind faith. By now we know that rainfall is related to ecological factors and food production is related to agricultural policies. To attribute this to Gods’ will is not only wrong it is a slap on the scientific temper. BJP in Karnataka came to power by propping up Baba Budan Giri dargah issue and now it is resorting to outright communal and obscurantist politics by giving money to temples. This also displays that BJP like formations are there just to promote faith in temples and Mutts, to build their policies around issues of ‘other world’. The builder of Modern India, Nehru, saw ‘Holy places’ in industries and agricultural development through planning. In contrast for BJP, Ram temple has been the core issue. BJP ruled Karnataka is fast falling into the politics of medieval ages. It is time that people reprimand such retrograde policies of the BJP and demand that public money cannot be wasted in temples etc.

Ram Puniyani
All India Secular Forum
1102/5 MHADA Deluxe
Rambaug Powai
Mumbai 400076
Ph 25704061