Responding to the decision of the government not to allow saffron shawls and headgear in schools and colleges, the Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of showing intolerance towards Hindu beliefs, traditions, and religious symbols while allegedly displaying favouritism towards minority communities.
In a strongly worded statement, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, and other BJP leaders alleged that the Chief Minister reacts negatively to Hindu symbols and practices. "You tremble at the sight of tilak, feel uneasy at the sight of saffron, become restless when you see the Hanuman flag, and are irritated even by the mention of the Ram temple," the Ashoka slammed.
Ashoka further accused Siddaramaiah of enthusiastically participating in celebrations of other religious communities. "During minority community events, you wear perfume, don a cap, and appear decorated like a newlywed groom," he remarked.
Questioning the Chief Minister's approach towards Hindu traditions, Ashoka asked why he allegedly displays "so much intolerance and hatred" towards Hindu beliefs, customs, and religious symbols.
Ashoka also reminded Siddaramaiah that he is the Chief Minister of the entire state and not just of minority communities. "Do not forget that you are the Chief Minister of the whole state, not only of minorities," Ashoka added.
It can be recalled that, permitting the wearing of hijabs, sacred threads, the Karnataka government on Wednesday withdrew its February 5, 2022, order on school and college uniforms and issued fresh guidelines permitting students to wear "limited traditional and faith-based symbols" along with prescribed uniforms in educational institutions across the state, stirring a huge controversy.
Hindu organisations and the BJP, reacting strongly to the government's decision, have called on students to wear saffron shawls to school.
Earlier, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government over its decision to withdraw the 2022 uniform order and permit limited traditional and faith-based symbols, including hijab, in schools and colleges.
In a strongly worded statement, Ashoka had alleged that the Congress government had revived the hijab issue as part of a "desperate appeasement strategy" following the Davanagere bypoll fallout and growing dissatisfaction among minority voters.
Calling the move "damage control" aimed at protecting the ruling party's vote bank, the BJP leader accused the Siddaramaiah government of resorting to divisive politics instead of addressing governance failures.
"The Congress government, rattled by the fallout of the Davanagere bypolls and growing anger within its minority voter base, has once again resorted to its old divisive playbook," Ashoka said.
He alleged that while Karnataka faced issues such as rising prices, corruption, farmer suicides, and deteriorating law and order, the government was focusing on religious issues for political gain.
"This is not about rights. It is a calculated political bribe to appease a specific community that has recently shown its discontent," he charged.
(With inputs from IANS)
