[Scroll.in] Karnataka governor refuses to sign bill to tax temples

The article discusses a bill in Karnataka that proposed to tax temples in the state. Here’s a summary:

– The bill, known as the 2024 Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Amendment Bill, proposed a 5% income tax on temples with revenue between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore, and a 10% tax on those with revenue exceeding Rs 1 crore.
– The Governor of Karnataka, Thawarchand Gehlot, refused to approve the amendments to the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997.
– Gehlot returned the bill and asked the Congress government if it had formed any similar legislation to include other religious bodies.
– The Bill proposed a Common Pool Fund under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department for aiding religious activities in the state
– The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress government of implementing “anti-Hindu” policies and trying to siphon off donations and offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions.
– The bill was defeated in the state Legislative Council.

Source: Conversation with Bing
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