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| - A graphic purportedly published by English news channel CNN News18 is being shared on the internet to claim that the Congress government in Karnataka is using funds collected from Hindu temples for mosques and churches.
What did the viral post say?: The post suggested that the state government had collected Rs 445 crore from Hindu temples, out of which Rs 330 crore would be donated to mosques and churches.
Is the claim true?: The claim is misleading.
We found that around Rs 393 crore was allocated to the minorities in the Karnataka budget 2024-25, and the funds were to be drawn from the Minorities Development Corporations.
Team WebQoof debunked a similar claim in February 2024.
Where is the graphic from?: Using the help of Google Lens, we conducted a reverse image search and came across a YouTube video published on the official channel of CNN News 18.
The clip was uploaded on 16 February 2024 and was titled, "Karnataka Politics | Karnataka Budget Allocates Funds For Minority Development Amid Controversy."
We found that the same graphic was seen in this clip. At around the 4:56 timestamp, anchor Rahul Shivshankar was heard saying, "Let me give you those numbers; they are startling, and these are numbers that are about two years old. I don't have the latest figures..."
Reviewing the state budget 2024-25: We went through the Karnataka budget for the financial year 2024-25 to verify the authenticity of the claims.
We found a total of Rs 330 crore was allocated for the development of Waqf properties and the Christian community.
However, the funds were to be drawn from the Minorities Development Corporations in the state.
The total amount allocated for all the minorities (including Sikhs, Jains, and others) came up to Rs 393 crore.
Further, we found that the budget also carried funds for developing "well-equipped residential complexes will be constructed at pilgrimage destinations such as Thirumala, Srishaila, Varanasi, Guddapur etc."
Over 300 crore was allocated for the same.
Karnataka Transport Minister refuted claims: The state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy took to his official X handle to debunk the viral claims.
The post was shared on 16 February 2024.
Reddy clarified by saying, "No money from temples has been given to the minority welfare department."
A second wind?: Team WebQoof had previously debunked the viral claim, where it was falsely claimed that funds from temples in Karnataka were given to Waqf and Christian communities.
At that point, we had highlighted that Karnataka's Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act specifies that funds collected from temples could be only used for things "connected with the Hindu Religion."
You can read our fact-check here.
Conclusion: It is evident that the viral claim about Karnataka budget's allocation is false.
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
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