False: Priests have not started removing donation boxes from Karnataka temples
Social media users are sharing a video claiming that some priests in Karnataka have begun removing donation boxes from temples.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: Social media users are sharing a video claiming that some priests in Karnataka have begun removing donation boxes from temples.
In the post, it is also claimed that they questioned government officials about the need for the donation box if not used for Hindu devotees.
Users said priests instructed the officials to bring the donations from churches and mosques first.
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Fact Check:
The claim is false.
NewsMeter performed a keyword search and found a tweet. "This video originally was shared by Praja TV on 31st Oct 2015 which is now unavailable and some organizations and people (if you can read Kannada, you will know with a clear agenda of Purohit and @BJP4Karnataka bashing) brought it out as if it is recent," read the tweet.
The user also tweeted the `Praja Vani' article.
In the 'Praja Vani' article, the head priest stated that the government does not pay them salaries and that they rely on the money devotees offer in the aarti plate. He questioned the temple officials about how they would survive if a donation box was placed inside the temple.
There are a few more photos of the temple from the 2015 incident on Facebook. Those photos show the donation box from the video.
Also, Hundi was allowed to be placed in the Kolaramma temple in Kolar, Karnataka, by the High Court in 2015.
Hence, the claim is false.
