Karnataka: Why is the BJP gov’t endorsing “Congress time rule” prohibiting non-Hindu vendors on temple land?

Image: The News Minute

The Karnataka government has cited the state’s Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act as being the rule that “prohibits non-Hindu vendors from conducting their business on the premises or properties belonging to temples.” According to a report in The New Indian Express, Law Minister JC Madhuswamy told the Assembly on Wednesday that this “law was passed during the Congress government”.

His reply was in response to members of the Congress raising the issue of temple committees virtually banning Muslims and other non-Hindus from putting up stalls “in and around temples in coastal Karnataka.” According to the news report, the Congress had objected to reports of Hindu organisations putting up banners and posters near temples declaring this ‘prohibition’. 

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai reportedly said, “The government couldn’t interfere if the ban was legal.” Madhuswamy defended the BJP government and said, “The government has no role. As per rules framed under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act in 2003, non-Hindus cannot be given the lease of properties like ground, building or any other place that belongs to state-owned temples.” It is not known yet if the government even mentioned that the rule they claim was framed by Congress will be amended. According to the minister if the discriminatory banners “are put up on roads and away from the temples, only then the state government can take action against perpetrators.”

Some more from Karnataka have announced the anti-Muslim trader boycott soon after the Muslim is growing by the day, after the Marikamba temple in Shivamogga and Suggi Mahakali temple in Kaup-Udupi decided not to allot shops to traders from the minority community claiming this was “in the wake of hijab row.” Now Puttur in Dakshina Kannada and Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru city have also banned Muslim traders, reported The Hans India news portal. According to its report, the Puttur Mahalingeshwara temple “is one of the largest temples owned by the endowment department of the State government” and has now announced it “will not allot shops Muslim traders during its mega Jathra” this year. “Most of the traders who put up stalls at Mahalingeshwara temple are Muslims,” added the report, they “sell toys, fruits and vegetarian snacks and other food items” as well as run the games and entertainment stalls.

The issue was raised during zero hour in Assembly by Congress MLA UT Khader on Wednesday. “They are not stealing or indulging in dacoity. They are leading a respectful life. But because of some vested interests, banners and posters have been put up at various places across the state, insisting that non-Hindus are not allowed to do their business. It does not say who put up those posters. These are cowards who are indulging in such acts,” he reportedly said, adding that such a boycott was communal and an attempt “by communal elements, who want to disrupt peace in society. The police too are refusing to register cases.”

Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Ahmed added that “banning a certain religion is a dangerous trend, and it can turn from bad to worse.”

However, once cornered about the anti-Muslim boycott annual fair at Marigudi Temple in Kaup, Udupi, Karnataka, the temple management Shree Kote Marikamba Seva Samiti “clarified” its stand a couple of days ago saying, “Ddecision to allot stalls is left to the person who has won the tender and the committee does not interfere with the process… no community is kept out of the celebrations.” Its president S K Mariyappa told the media on Sunday that “people should not lend their ears to rumours that a particular community is being kept out of the celebrations.” He also claimed that Muslims “are taking part in different activities related to the fair” and that “Muslims bring rice and other essential products for the jatra. Hence, there is no need for unnecessary confusion.” His claims come close on the heels of news reports that Muslims were not allowed to set up stalls at the temple fair. Mariyappa has now clarified, “The tender has been won by one Nagaraj, who will take a call on whom to allot stalls. The jatra committee will not interfere in the decision of the tender-holder. But, we have put a condition that no stalls should be erected around the temple.” 

However According to The Hindu, the boycott posters written in Kannada, lists out ‘rules’ that sound like Hindutva oaths such as, “We will not engage in business with those who don’t respect this land’s law and Constitution, those who slaughter the cattle we worship… We won’t let them set up business here either” Ironically, the report informed that  name ‘Bappanadu’ itself “comes from a Muslim Beary trader who is believed to have built this Hindu temple.” According to the news report, “There have been at least half a dozen instances this year alone of Muslims being ‘banned’ from doing business at temple fairs. Hindutva organisations including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu Jagarana Vedike, and the Bajrang Dal have been submitting memorandums to temple authorities, municipal officials, and town councils, calling for a ban on Muslims setting up shops and stalls.”

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