The Congress has opposed the allocation of funds to various temples, maths and religious groups by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka and said such budgetary proposals would lead to communal tensions and caste conflicts in society.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president R.V. Deshpande told presspersons here on Saturday that the B.S. Yeddyurappa Ministry was attempting to divide the people on communal lines by allocating funds to a few select temples and religious institutions.
Terming the budgetary proposals “RSS agenda”, KPCC chief said the Religious and Endowment Department should identify temples, maths and other religious institutions for allocation of funds in a year.
The Chief Minister's announcement of allocation of funds for religious institutions in the State budget would disturb communal harmony and peace, Mr. Deshpande said.
Opposing acquisition of lands for residential layouts on the outskirts of Bangalore City, the Congress leader said party workers led by V.S. Ugrappa, former leader of the Opposition in the legislative Council, would take out a protest march in the city on Wednesday.
SEZ for IT opposed
The Congress opposed the proposed special economic zone for IT on 12,000 acres of land at Devanahalli.
The government should refrain from forced acquisition of lands from farmers for industrial projects, he said.
The Congress welcomed the State Election Commission's decision to hold elections to the council of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and said the commission was forced to hold elections on March 28 following the directives of the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court.
Demonstration
Several Congress leaders, led by the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, staged a protest demonstration near Mahatma Gandhi statue off Sheshadri Road here against “the anti-development and anti-people attitude of the State government.”
