Himachal govt asking temples to fund welfare scheme: Former CM Jairam Thakur

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The North News

Shimla, February 28

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur alleged that the state’s financial condition has worsened to the point where the Congress-led government, under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is seeking funds from temples while simultaneously opposing Sanatan Dharma and making anti-Hindu statements. Jairam Thakur has accused the state government of pressuring temples to contribute funds for its welfare initiative, the Sukh Ashray scheme.

Jairam Thakur who is also the Leader of the Opposition(LoP) alleged that on one hand, the Sukhu government opposes Hindu traditions, and on the other, it wants to run its flagship scheme using funds from temples,” Thakur wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He called on the public, temple authorities, and religious trusts to resist the government’s move.

In a video posted on X, Thakur cited a letter dated 29 January from the state’s Art, Language, and Culture Department instructing temple trusts to contribute to the scheme. The document referenced the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984, under which temple trusts regularly make donations for welfare projects.

According to Thakur, officials were being pressured to transfer the funds promptly. He asserted that the BJP opposed the decision and accused the government of targeting religious institutions for financial resources. The Himachal Pradesh government has yet to respond to the allegations.