Hubbali: Amidst growing aspiration to free Hindu temples from government control, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that his government will bring a bill to this effect before the budget session of the assembly.

"There is a growing aspiration to free Hindu temples from government temples. In the present setup, the temple managements are required to seek permission from the government to utilize their income for development. The state government will bring a bill to this effect before the budget session of the assembly," he said addressing the State BJP Executive Meeting here.

The announcement comes in the wake of the Uttarakhand government deciding to scrap Chardham Devasthanam Board, which was managing the affairs of 51 temples across the state, including the famous Himalayan temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Bommai also said that the anti-conversion bill will not just become a law, but a special task force will also be constituted to implement it properly.

Under the new law, Bommai said there will be some regulations for running the temples, but there will not be any control over them. "The temples will be given a free hand to manage their affairs," he said.

On the proposed anti-conversion law, Bommai said for its proper implementation, a special special task force will be set up. "The proposed law will not be a mere law. We will see to it that it is properly implemented. For this, we will set up a special task force," he said.

On Congress plans to repeal the bill if it comes to power, he said that “the law ensuring freedom for all to practice their religion will remain permanently.”

During the winter session, the Karnataka assembly had passed the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 that provides for protection of right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means.

The bill proposes imprisonment from three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, SC/ST, offenders will face a jail term of three to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000.