INDIA, November 24, 2019 (Gulte): Quoting Chilkur Balaji Temple’s head priest Shri Rangarajan as saying, Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan has questioned the governments of AP and Telangana for collecting taxes from Hindu temples alone. Echoing the similar views of Shri Rangarajan, Pawan Kalyan said how the secular governments are charging one-third of temples revenue as taxes. He said on the contrary neither Churches nor any other community is paying a single rupee as tax. Stating no objection to the state governments increasing subsidies to Jerusalem pilgrims and Haj pilgrims, Shri Rangarajan and Pawan Kalyan are questioning the state governments for charging huge taxes on temple revenues.
The duo said 23.5 percent taxes are being levied on temple revenues. 15 percent as Endowment Tax, 2 percent Audit Fee and another 2 percent Common Good Fund. In addition to these, Priests Welfare Fund and other taxes are cutting down the incomes of temples. Shri Rangarajan said, “As per Article 26 and 27, the governments should not tax on revenues of Religious Organizations. Then why only temples are being taxed. Please answer to this simple question.”