District Congress alleges bias in temple funding by BJP government

Mangalore, September 9: President of Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee B. Ramanatha Rai alleged here on Thursday that the State government was anti backward classes as it released meagre amount for the development of small shrines in the district under 'aaradhana' scheme for 2010-11.

Addressing presspersons here he said that backward classes people worshipped the Almighty of their belief in small shrines (gudi and gopura). The government released only Rs. 71,428 for their development for each Assembly constituency in the district for 2010-11. It was not enough as MLAs got many demand applications from people seeking funds. Each MLA got more than 25 demand applications, he said.

Mr. Rai, who is Bantwal MLA, said that the government did not release any fund under the scheme in the district for 2008-09. He released details of funds released to each Assembly constituencies under the scheme in the district for 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The details had been provided by the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

He said that each Assembly constituency got only Rs. 89,284 in 2009-10. The government had released Rs. 11.25 lakh for each Assembly segment in 2007-08.

Mr. Rai said that the Congress had launched the scheme when it was in power in the State.

Mangalore MLA U T Khader said that he had received 40 applications seeking funds under the scheme. Moodbidri MLA K. Abhayachandra Jain said that he had received 25 applications.

Mr. Rai said that the government should release more funds for developing roads in the district. Many doors in the district were in poor condition, he alleged.