The BJP on Saturday accused the Karnataka Congress government of being “anti-Hindu” and of double standards after allegations that students appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET) were asked to remove their janeu.
The controversy erupted after five Brahmin students alleged that they were told by invigilators at a city college in Madivala during the CET on Friday to remove their sacred thread (janeu/yajnopaveetha) in order to enter the examination hall and write the exam.
Reacting to the incident, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla raised the issue in a post on X and criticised the state government.
“Is it a crime to be a Hindu in Karnataka? In Karnataka, students were stopped from entering the examination hall for wearing a janeu and were given a brutal option, choose your faith or your future. This happened last year as well,” Poonawalla alleged.
He further accused the Karnataka government of practising appeasement politics and alleged double standards in dealing with religious symbols in educational institutions.
“In Karnataka, we have seen the politics of appeasement. Muslim reservation, a Muslim-only budget, and quotas and contractual work for Muslims. But Hindus have to remove their sacred thread if they want to take an exam, which even the courts have, by the way, allowed,” he alleged.
Poonawalla also said similar issues had been reported in other states ruled by the Congress and referred to past debates over religious attire in classrooms, including hijab-related cases.
“This is not the first time this has happened. In Telangana and other states, the tilak and mangalsutra were removed. But hijab is fine. This is the kind of second-class treatment being given to Hindus,” he said.
He further used strong language against the Congress party, saying it should rename itself from INC to “MMC — Muslim League Maowadi Congress” or the “Islamic National Caliphate Party”.
Following the incident, the college suspended the invigilator pending inquiry, while the state government ordered a probe. Police also registered a case and detained three staff members of Krupanidhi College for questioning, officials said.
A similar incident had occurred last year in Karnataka, after which the government had directed that CET candidates should not be asked to remove the janeu while appearing for examinations.
(With PTI inputs)