Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said the State Government will soon giving regular salaries to the temple priests, Imams and Muezzins of mosques.
He made the announcement while intervening in the Question Hour on the first day of winter session of Telangana State Assembly.
Earlier, MIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi raised the issue of salaries to Pundits or temple priests and demanded that all the priests should be brought under the scheme.
KCR said that the State Government had made a beginning by paying regular salaries to the priests through the treasury. “This is first of its kind scheme in any State in the country”, he said. Referring to the representation made by several legislators and temple managements the Chief Minister said that a committee will be constituted soon to consider regular salaries to all the temple priests.
KCR also assured the house that the Government will consider introducing regular salaries to Imams and Muezzins of all mosques in the State.
He also praised MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi for raising his voice for the temple priests and demanding regular salaries to all of them.
Describing it as a shining example of secular spirit of India, KCR said “I appreciate Owaisi’s demand for regular salaries to Hindu priests. This is a reflection of secular spirit”.
The Chief Minister said that the Government will ensure justice to all the sections of society.