60 intellectuals write to Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai over rising incidents of hate, communal politics

master

March 30, 2022

KEY STORY

Sixty intellectuals from Karnataka have written to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urging him to clamp down on rising incidents of hate and communal politics in the state. The remarks come amid the brewing hijab row and the recent reports of Muslim shopkeepers being barred from local annual fairs. These incidents, they said, indicated the worsening situation in the coastal state.
Earlier this month, the Karnataka High Court had ruled that hijab was not an essential religious practice and everyone should abide by uniform dress rules while in school. Following the verdict, the state government had said that those not following the HC ruling would not be allowed to write their exams. Accordingly some Muslim girls who appeared for their Class 10 board examination wearing hijab were denied entry on Monday.
The state is also facing growing calls for Muslim traders and vendors to be banned from carrying out business in the vicinity of temples during Hindu festivals and temple fairs. Several organisations had objected to the participation of Muslim traders after many of them had closed their shops to protest the Karnataka High Court verdict upholding the state’s ban on hijabs at educational institutions.
Posters barring Muslims or non-Hindus have propped up around various temples across the state. While the ‘Maari Gudi Temple’ management at Kapu town of Udupi has reportedly decided not to allow ‘people from other faith’ to do business on its land during the annual temple festival “on the request of certain organisations”, banners announcing curbs on Muslim traders have cropped up on stalls at the annual fair of ‘Bappanaadu Durgaparameshwari Temple’ near Mangaluru.

CONCLUSION

While the Karnataka government insists that it does not encourage the ‘ban’ and would take action against miscreants, some groups have backed Hindus boycotting Muslim traders. “Sriram Sena extends its full cooperation to such boycott, which has started in Karnataka,” said the group’s convener, Pramod Muthalik last week.