Karnataka Govt Grants worth Rs 60 crores for religious outfits

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Rs 60-cr largesse for faith


Express News Service
First Published : 21 Feb 2009 08:27:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 21 Feb 2009 12:05:22 PM IST

BANGALORE: With an eye on the coming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has doled out grants worth over Rs 50 crore for the development of various religious institutions and places of importance for different sects of people, besides announcing a grant of Rs 10 crore for places spreading religious harmony.

Unmindful of the criticism by the Opposition for his soft corner for religious institutions, BSY has given them the goodies. “Sincere efforts will be made to bind different religions and castes with love and affection by formulating constructive programmes,” the CM announced in his budget speech.

Institutions and places chosen for the grants for spreading religious harmony are: Khaja Aminuddin Dargah (Bijapur), Shirahatti Fakiraswamy Mutt (Gadag Dist), Kodekal Basavanna and Tinthani Mauneswara of Surpur (Gulbarga), Savalgi Shivalingeswara Mutt of Gokak (Belgaum), Murugamalla Kshetra of Chintamani (Kolar) and other places of Hindu-Muslim and Hindu-Christian amity.

Yeddyurappa has earmarked Rs 10 crore for Kaginele, the birth place of saint Kanakadasa, while announcing a Rs 50-crore plan to develop Renuka Yellamma temple at Saudat t i in Belgaum. An amount of Rs 5 crore has been kept aside for the coming year for the Kaginele projects.

Other religious places and institutions chosen for grants include: Yediyuru Siddalingeshwara Mutt (Rs 5 crore), Malemahadeshwara Betta, Biligirirangana Betta and Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Rs 5 crore), Melukote (Rs 2 crore), Chandragutti and Shivanapada (Rs 2 crore each), Jidaga Mutt in Gulbarga ( Rs 1 crore), Sharanabasaveshwara Gurupeetha of Bovi community in Bagalkot, Immadi Siddarameshwara Mutt and Hampi Hemakoot Gayatri Mutt (Rs 1 crore each), Kumaraswamy Mutt at Hangal and Shivayogi Mandir in Bagalkot (Rs 1 crore each), Babbuswamy Mutt in Udupi (Rs 1 crore) and Rajanahalli Valmiki Gurupeetha in Davanagere (Rs 2 crore).