Revenue Department has asked 34,000 temples to conduct a slew of rituals
Under attack for failing to take timely steps to tackle the severe drought in Karnataka, the State government has now taken to propitiating the gods.
The Department of Revenue (Muzrai) has issued a circular to 34,000 temples under its control to conduct ‘abhishekha,’ ‘varuna mantra,’ ‘jalabhishekha’ and several other rituals.
The circular has drawn flak from the Opposition, which has said the money meant for these rituals could have been allotted for relief work.
Issued on Thursday, the circular says the government is “convinced” that it is necessary to conduct these rituals in view of the severe drought, and “for the welfare of people and cattle.”
The government has sanctioned a maximum of Rs. 5,000 for each temple. This will amount to not less than Rs.17 crore. Temples in the A, B and C categories are expected to conduct the rituals on July 27 and August 2. The circular makes a particular mention of such prominent temples as Kollur Mookambika, Kukke Subrahmanya Swamy, Kateelu Durgaparmeshwari and Nanjangud Srikantheswara Swamy.
Speaking on the drought in the Assembly, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Revanna criticised the way the government was spending its funds and urged it to ask the legislators to spend money from their own pockets on invoking the rain gods in their constituencies.
H.S. Mahadeva Prasad of the Congress and Putte Gowda of the JD(S) said the money meant for the rituals could be spent on providing water and fodder in villages.
This is not the first time the BJP government has directed public funds at promoting religious practices. The former Muzrai Minister, S.N. Krishnaiah Setty, had initiated the practice of sourcing Ganga jal (the Ganges water) from Haridwar for being distributed in temples during Shivaratri.
He continued this practice at his own expense after he resigned. He also ordered temples to conduct pujas every day for the “welfare” of the Chief Minister. And, with Jagadish Shettar taking over as Chief Minister, it was for the third time that homas and pujas were conducted in the offices of the Ministers.
1. First it was Deve Goud and Kumaraswamy who never allowed Yedurappa
to function 2. Then it was Yedurappa who never allowed his own nominee
Sadanand Goud to function 3. Now it is the turn of Sadanand Goud and
Vokkaliga Mutt Seers to disrupt the functioning of Langayat Leader
from Hubli. 4. BJP versus BJP fight was more interesting.
So naturally God was annoyed that BJP never cared for people of the
state. Corruption charges after corruption charges maligned BJP's
reputation [ if any left ]. Now Nature's [God's] turn to take revenge
against not only BJp but also the people of the state who voted for
that party. Result worst drought in 42 years . Hence the action of BJP
to please God through Prayers !
tax payers money has been misused again in the name of pooja / rituals.
the same money could have been better utilised to dig borewells with
submersible pumps or else wind mills through out the state to support
drought hit areas. shame on the mindless governence.
Most stupid act ever. It would do good for the government to use this fund for rainwater harvesting. I am sure the Gods above will be more pleased if we used some common sense rather than turning to them to solve every problem of ours that we created. Drought conditions are due to the way we have been treating the ecological system and the scant regard to water saving practices. Have we forgotten the saying 'God helps those who help themselves?'
The conduct of yagas for rainfalls are making the atmosphere condition warm& such kind of activity lead to clash with clouds and it makes rain falls naturally.so the allocation of fund for such kind of activities shows political profit motive.
Prayer can do wonders.
The circular says the government is 'convinced' that it is necessary to conduct these rituals....; Shame on Karnataka Govt. Its leaders, irrespective of party, run to temples whenever they have political crisis and believe in black magic also. If these people continue to believe that normal rainfall is an act of god, how can one expect good environmental policies and protection of forest etc. to maintain a normal ecosystem. Also, one wonder what the IAS officers think and do in these funny episodes. Are they part of these jokers or just mute spectators?
I wish our leaders would use their intelligence instead of just banking on rituals. With 20 nuclear power plants working all over the country dehydrating the atmosphere it is no wonder that India is suffering from droughts for the past few years and IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE WHEN KOODANKULAM starts up as a 1000MW will heavily deplete the atmosphere of it's moisture. Check the statistics and the records. The most heavy nuclear country France has suffered from droughts for the past five years or more. The U.S. is also facing droughts and this year of a huge magnitude. Japan which shut down ALL it's 58 nuclear plants last year has received BUMPER rain this year. When France shut down 17 of it's nuclear plants, last year, as their rivers were running dry it had some rain. SHUT down nuclear power or we will have electricity but NO WATER! Besides it is hypocritical to pray to the Creator for the blessing of rain when you are damaging all his living manifestations with deadly nuclear poisons!
It is pathetic to read this news that an elected government is spending on pujas to gods seeking rain. It shows they lack scientific thinking and their mind is filled with communal fundamentalist ideas. Central government can consider of overthrowing BJP government in karnataka on the lines of misusing public money. Shame on the BJP government which is in a poor state of inner party political crisis by doing this pujas they advocate their secular credentials.
Our governtment collects crores of money every year from these very temples collected through hundi without providing any facility or maintenance..selected few temples are cash rich...but majority of them which are many centuries old are in a pitiable condition due to lack of maintenance...some priests use their petty salary to do some minimal maintenance at the cost of their personal needs...I consider this is good for our 34000 temples considering the fact that the govt has taken so much from these temples for so many years. Although each may get very less which is around Rs. 2000-5000 but still it is a positive step.
Public money is not being used, temple trust funds are. And even if public money is used, how can it be wrong since the exercise, as unscientific and superstitious it maybe, is done for the welfare of the public at large. And why do you not raise such a ruckus when the government finances other initiatives such as Haj? I
If one could make it rain by praying, the best the government could have done was declare a day when all will pray in all places instead of only in the temples. The crores that the Government is giving to temples could have been better used elsewhere. Instead of working new plans to combat drought, the BJP government is mocking at the people by giving money to the temples to pray.
Fantastic. Maybe Yedurappa can put in a direct word with the rain gods. Here is an idea that will actually produce results - stop the slimy builder-politician cartel from cutting down the trees for development. Don't allow cities like Bangalore to expand uncontrollably without sufficient natural resources. The apartments in Bangalore are sucking the earth dry. It's mind boggling that a secular state can use tax payer's money for such nonsensical religious rituals.
Let us hope that the Karnataka government extends this to other propitiating as well. A Kubhera Yaga for ministers and legislators to prosper. A Yaga for protection against raids.A Yaga for dementia to cloud the memories of people.A yaga for Mrithunjya's blessings to stay in power always and at any cost or consequence. A Yaga for Bhoodevi's guidance to excavate minerals unnoticed.A Yaga to blank out media.
Why spend on irrigation infrastructure? Let us all pray for rain. The stupidity and corruption has no end in politics.
Let these BJP politicians go and stay in the conditions for a month the farmer and cattle are facing. The pooja is to eat 50% of 18.5 crore and pay off the temples who supported the so called Lingayat community leader when he had corrupt charges.I am Lingayat and will never vote the current BJP leadership. They are shame on Lingayat community.Will contribute my time next year to go to villages and highlight how these politicians are living with people money.
This is just shameful. It makes us seem like we are living in the middle ages. How about they spend this money on something useful, something that will actually help someone?
This is where we are heading, no words to say. Long live India!!!!!! We have all the time for nonsense in this world and still dream of becoming a developed nation. Will any of these guys can spend at least half of this time in educating the public how to control pollution and save environment, no, definitely no, if the answer is yes, i would not have been submitting this comment from USA.
Waste of money.Cloud seeding is the scientific method to bring in rains. Our constitution says that people should be made science minded rather than superstition-oriented.
I can't believe that these guys did not think about God when they were busy involving themselves in Scams, Cheap and dirty politics, corruption, swearing, watching improper videos in the assembly, sleeping during session, blame games and 1000s of such atrocities. Now that monsoon is failing (largely because of other reasons) and is a sure shot reason for people to NOT elect the same party the next time, these guys are looking for refuge in God.
Even if 10% of all money made illegally would have spent in irrigation planning and water management across the state, this day would not have come.
Somehow I am convinced that the pooja is a scam to make more money!!!
Pooja may or may not work. But what will really work in short term is conservation of water and plan for long term solutions on scientific concepts. Is it not God who is bringing this drought?
This kind of idiotic rituals happen these days, shame!!!
I am very confused right now!!! I am not sure, the politicians are really an innocent or acting like that. If they spent 18.5 corers to plant the trees then it may not be drought now. Instead they are plot the cultivation and forest area. How rain will be pour??? Also I am very doubt on these amount will be spent properly??? The politicians are making plans to corrupt..... Hey bharatha matha!!!
It is sheer foolishness to perform puja for rains...no offense to anyone's believes. Government should spend Rs.18.5crore( which is no doubt a huge amount ) on drought relief and plantation and on doing something to make our country more green. Whoever suggested pujas for drought...I seriously question his cognitive ability.
This action of the govt. should be condemned thoroughly. This is the same govt. which does not bat an eye lid in cutting down hundreds of trees in Bangalore in the name of development projects. Do these fools know the connection between rains and trees? Did they ask the gods before chopping down trees, encroaching on lake beds, gouging the earth for iron ore and wasting the precious water that it gets from the rivers and the ground?? They want to now show to the people how god-fearing they are!
The government cannot spend funds on poojas. This is not acceptable in a secular country. I doubt if it is even constitutional. Why cant BJP spend 18.5 crores from its own funds?
What a waste of money, 18.5 crores?? With so much money all the uneducated people of Karnataka can be given proper education and study books for free.Politicians do nothing but find ways to make the exchequer poorer day by day. If people have faith and they are religious then they can pray to GOD by being at home itself. They don't need to go to a temple and conduct so called special Puja which is nothing but waste of food, money, time, flowers. GOD never differentiates between a special Puja and a normal prayer. He differentiates between strong and weak faith.
The CM request Rs.2000 crore from the center and his government gives away Rs.18.5 crore to perform an unscientific experiment that they think will cause rain ? Absurd! We continue to elect people who lack the basic understanding of why there is drought in the first place. Climate Change ?
Having Faith in the Almighty is good but it is absurd to demand even a single paisa for the Puja..Instead other facilities should be chart up and put in action to cope up with the deficit rain..I hope the Central govt will see reason and not yield to such backward demands.
Have you ever heard of governments praying ? Here it is our B J P govt not only prays but make prayer special by spending Rs 17.5 crores. Let us see how much rain will come
I strongly condemn the action of Karnataka government. An individual has the right to act foolish but a legitimate givt. cannot do that. It has no right in wasting tax payers money in useless poojas. If they want rain they should do silver seeding and there are many modern technology available. Why can't the Karnataka govt. close all the hospitals and perform mantra and poojas for the sick people so that they can get well. I kindly request the supreme court to take this as a PIL and immediately start prosecution against karnataka govt. which is acting unscientifically and wasting the tax payers money.I am ready to come all the way from London to appear in the court to give witness against this reckless and foolishness of an elected government.
It is unfortunately that the Karnataka State is under going with drought. In my home state Kerala is witnessed the same. The Karnatak month which usually getting more rain in Kerala but this year the rain is very low. But the Karnataka government going with special pooja for getting rain is a shame. Persons may have to go with pooja is OK but not a government machinery to use this multi crore rupees waste program.
Had it been so that it would start raining with the prayers and offerings then India's meteorological department should start doing the same rather than studying the situation.
Govt. should stop fooling innocent farmers, BPLs and lower middle class group, who are the most affected group.
The huge amount of money that Govt. will pass , 75% of which would be engulfed by the corrupt govt. and its officials, if utilized in standing proper infrastructures for irrigation and other related things. The could have been minimal.
I hope all Govt. at state as well as center stop fooling us,we innocent Indians, and start doing some significant works.
"To develop scientific temper" is one of the fundamental duties of the Indian citizens, says our Constitution. And what these idiots are doing?
Karnataka bjp govt should be entitled with the title "worst govt independent India ever seen". Mining scam, porn gate, three cm in 3 years, pooja for rain and more to come.
This is totally un-acceptable act of govt., I suspect there is some scandal in this transaction of 18 crore. Is there any way to stop this ?
Absolute waste of public money.... Oh GOD... help people from crazy,
corrupt politicians....
These legislators need to understand that the occurrence of rain can be attributed to
scientific causes. Climate change is a reality and droughts are now a common phenomenon
everywhere, be it Nigeria or Texas. If the governor of the state of Texas decides a day of
praying will bring in rain, he is absolutely wrong, just like the minister in Karnataka. Perry
prayed last year and the rain fell this year! Meanwhile drought is playing havoc in the rest of
the united states. Poojas & propitiations can only take you so far.
This kind of nonsense has to be stopped immediately! It appalls me that in
the 21st century we are still doing this. Those 18.5 crores can be spent on
water harvesting through building and using 'johads', rainwater storage
tanks, check dams and other techniques. Give this money to Rajendra Singh,
the 'Water man of India' and allow him some autonomy and he can change this
drought situation in a few years. If he can correct and remove water
shortages in the driest areas of Rajasthan and the Thar desert, he can
surely do it in Karnataka.
Is there not one forward looking politician in this country? How can we
ever dream of progressing when all we do is caste/religion/god based
politics and keep praying to God for change rather than at least trying to
being the instruments of change ourselves?
I hope the poojas are rewarded with copious amounts of rain and this helps the farmers and general populace.
How lame are these politicians? Instead of spending 18.5 crore for some
religious ceremonies from exchequer to get some rain, they can of course
use this money to improve the drought conditions like drinking water
supply or agricultural subsidies.
Praying to God for rains is not a futile exercise as Mr.Naniah sought
to make out. In 1952, Rajaji again became Chief Minister of the then
Madras State. The state had had no rains or very meagre rains in the
previous four years and the state was suffering very badly. Rajaji
appealed to all the temples, churches and mosques to pray for rains.
Believe it or not, the single minded prayers had its effect and in
April of that year there was a heavy downpour, least expected in that
month of the year. Lakes and reservoirs got filled up and there was
"subiksham" everywhere. It is to be hoped that the churches and
mosques will also join the temples and pray to the Almighty to send
adequate rains in Karnataka. God does not need man's money to send
rains as he is not in the business of selling water. Invoking his
compassion through sincere prayers may be enough.
Majority appeasement? But this is laughable. With BJP in centre, this
might just become the central norm. We can also have a 'minister for
promotion of virtue and prevention of vice' like the Taliban. Let us
throw all logic and reason to the wind and aspire for a 'Hindutva'
state.
This is objectively ridiculous. What next? Getting people to perform rain dance to appease the gods??. When will people realize that we are not starring in a movie? The government should invest in good science instead of indulging in such pointless exercises. It's almost as if they are throwing our hard-earned money into that river.
Mr.Nanaiah seems to be a very sensible person and I agree with him.
Karnataka can spend their money on drought relief efforts. After all no
body can help somebody who didn't try.
What human stupidity? As if the human prayers have any causal connection with rains ... . Instead of wasting time and energy on such vain pursuits, it would be better , given the effects of global warming, and uncertainty in determining complex earthly weather phenomena, we conserve rainwater by adopting reliable and efficient methods, improve irrigation methods used in agriculture and follow water conservation practices.
All these vain acts are retrogressive. They are the product of the stagnation of the human mind.
Bad enough they take for granted their own incompetence and rely on the
Gods but what makes it worse is that this is clearly a Hindu government
and not a secular one. Why cant they issue an order asking all places of
worship to pray for the rain? Why must only Hindu Gods be propitiated
using public money? Blatant and disgusting community politics. But will
the people of Karnataka condone this? Looks like we will as we are too
keen on dividing ourselves into even finer groups - Lingayats,
Vokkaliggas etc etc. We get the government we deserve.
May be,Mother Nature herself is totally upset and angry with the way the hypocrite politicos of Karnataka are looting the God- given natural resources left and right without any shame to fill their coffers in the most filthy way.What is the use of performing poojas in the empty temples where from the Gods should have escaped by now fearing that the BJP clan might even uproot them from their abodes to be sold in the antic markets for a real fortune?
Lunacy. Another Rs 18.5 crore wasted which should have gone to the
farmers who are on the edge of suicide.
Could the Karnataka govt be any more absurd ? Instead of using the funds
to prepare for the worst to come, spending money on meaningless things
seems the logical way to go!
The quote "God helps those who help themselves" is a popular motto that
emphasizes the importance of self-initiative. Karnataka BJP leaders by their shameless public in-fighting to grab the power has left the devil
to take the common man's day to day problems. This has been costing the
state dear in the face of unprecedented drought. No divine intervention
could substitute the dereliction duty. Adding insult to injury the state
Govt is wasting 18.5 crore rupees towards poojas instead of directing
the precious resource to mitigate suffering caused by lack of rain.
I was shocked at reading this news. I am sure the government would be doing at least something more than just pray in the temples, and in the process act medieval.
But the mere fact that they'd do something like this shows that this is only to show to the people that they are doing something. Which means that people are naive enough to believe that merely praying in temples will make it rain.
It therefore means that the government is only using such silly tactics to appease its rather naive voter base.You get the government you deserve...
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