Jai Ram: BJP govt used temple funds to help cow shelters

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today flayed the Congress government for issuing an order for mobilsing funds from temples in the state for government schemes. The BJP would oppose the government move on all fronts and would even hold protests if it took money from temples, he added. He was in Kangra to attend a social function.

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Asked about the Congress’ charge that even the previous BJP government had utilised temple funds, Thakur said that during his stint as Chief Minister, the funds of temples were used only for supporting gaushalas (cow shelters) run by NGOs. About 22,000 stray cows had been provided shelter in gaushalas when his term as Chief Minister ended. The BJP regime had not used temple funds for any government scheme, he added.

He said that temple trusts and not the government had given funds for gaushalas. He added that the Congress government, which was facing a financial crisis, was eyeing about Rs 500 crore of temple money. This decision of the government was unprecedented as the temple money should be used only for the development of religious institutions and creating facilities for pilgrims and devotees, he added.