Of Money and Caeser paying God

Government Funding of Religion
26 July 07

Following VHP’s demand for an end to government funding of madarsas, it will be interesting, using Right to Information, to find out government expenditure on religion in India. Such frank, correct data will for ever set to rest the Sangh Parivar’s fear it is getting less than the minorities – in absolute or pro rata terms



Salaries of imams
Doles to mosques for repairs
Upkeep of shrines, if any
Hajj subsidy
Telecast and broad cast expenses
Moneys for burial grounds

Hindus
Money to temples for upkeep
Salaries to priests
Salaries to Sanskrit ands other seminaries
Confessional land and land revenue. Regularization of temples lands
Moneys on Kailash and other Yatras
Money of full and ardh-kumbhs
Telecast and broadcast expenses

Christians
Money to churches
Money to priests’ salaries
Money to Christian shrines
Moneys for cemeteries
Money for Christian festivals

Sikhs
Moneys for upkeep of Gurudwara
Moneys for salaries
Money in subsidies for yatras to Nankana sahib etc
Broadcast and telecast expenses
Money for cremation and other grounds

NationalStop financial aid to madarsas, demands VHP
Bhopal, July 22 (PTI) The Hindu
Alleging that madrassas are promoting 'jehad', the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) yesterday demanded an immediate end to financial grants provided to these institutions by the Union government.
"Grants amounting to Rs 500 crore are given to madrassas for dealing with poverty and illiteracy but these bodies are engaged in promoting jehadis," VHP leader Pravin Togadia claimed at a press conference here.
Noting that the VHP had protested against financial aid given to madrassas by the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, he said the organisation was sticking to its stand to oppose funds being provided to these institutions.
He said grants to madrassas virtually gave legitimacy to the activities taking place there.