Karnataka's ruling Congress government is facing severe criticism from opposition parties over Muslim appeasement. Especially after the Waqf land and quota controversies, the Siddaramaiah government is being accused of being biased in its policies towards Muslims. Meanwhile, this step of the Siddaramaiah government is being seen as an attempt at political 'damage control'. The Siddaramaiah government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to every pilgrim from the state who will visit Jammu and Kashmir for the darshan of Vaishno Devi.
Decision to conserve Hindu temples of the state
Not only this, the Karnataka government has also decided to protect the properties of state-run Hindu temples, remove any encroachments and provide financial assistance for their maintenance. The government has also decided that signboards regarding various mujrai schemes (grants given for religious or social purposes) will be put up in state-managed temples. Apart from this, a clear declaration board will also be installed to ensure that cash donations made in temples can be used only for those temples.
Other pilgrimage plans are already underway
Reservation proposal for Muslims?
Apart from this, there is news quoting sources that the state government has also proposed to give reservation to Muslims in public construction works. This reservation will be similar to the reservation given to Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities. Sources say that this proposal is for construction works worth up to Rs 1 crore.
Earlier, the state government had given 24 percent quota in government contracts to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and some backward castes. With these steps, the Karnataka government is trying to send a political message towards religious neutrality in the state, while the opposition is seeing it as vote bank politics.
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Image Credit: India-Tv.