Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jairam Thakur on Thursday accused the Himachal government of asking money from state government-run temples to finance the Sukh Ashray scheme.
In a post on X, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly LoP stated that there are around 36 major temples under state government control, and these temples have been requested to provide funds to run the government scheme.
"On one hand, the Sukhu government opposes Sanatana Dharma, keeps giving anti-Hindu statements and on the other hand, it wants to run the government's flagship scheme by taking money from temples. The government is demanding money from temples, and pressure is being put on officials to send the money to the government. The Bharatiya Janata Party opposes this decision of the government, he said.
In a self-made video, Jairam Thakur alleged that district administrations were pressuring the temple trusts to contribute funds. "A secretary of the Himachal Pradesh government department has written a letter to the deputy commissioner that the money in temple trusts should be deposited in the government treasury so that they can spend that money to run government schemes... This is sad and unfortunate. No government has ever taken money from temples and trusts to spend it on government schemes," he said.
He further said that any funds previously taken from temple trusts were only in the event of disasters. "They have not only given orders to take money from temple trusts, they are also taking follow-ups... This decision should be opposed... The people who are in the temple, the trusts and committees, should also protest," he said.
Jairam Thakur further said that they will oppose this government decision. "We will strongly oppose this decision. The Vidhan Sabha session is also going to start on the 10th; we will strongly oppose this inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha," Thakur said.
In a letter dated January 29, the Art, Language, and Culture Department asked the temple trusts to contribute funds for the scheme. "The various temple trusts functioning under the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions Charitable Endowments Act, 1984 keep making contributions for charitable activities and welfare scheme run by the State Govt.
While making such charitable contribution the temple trusts may make contribution towards the Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashray Yojna/Kosh as well as Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojna/Kosh with a view to provide fund for the above mentioned welfare Schemes," the government of Himachal wrote to all the Commissioners (Temple)-cum Deputy Commissioners and The Commissioner (Temple)-cumAdditional Deputy Commissioner, District Bilaspur on January 29.
The objective of the Sukh Ashray scheme is to provide better opportunities for children (especially orphans), single and destitute women, and the elderly.