Shimla, March 3 -- Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Sunday said the Himachal Pradesh government had neither taken money from temples nor would take it. The BJP hit back, claiming Agnihotri was lying.

Recently, leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur had accused the Himachal government of seeking money from the state-controlled temples to finance the Sukh Ashray scheme and Sukh Shiksha scheme.

Denying issuance of any such notification, Mukesh Agnihotri clarified, "The portfolio of temples is with me and if I say that there is nothing like this, then it carries weight. This is only a political propaganda by the BJP and other organisations."

Agnihotri was in Mandi to participate in the traditional 'Madhya Jalebh' Shobha Yatra of Shri...