BJP MLC slams ban on Muslim traders in temple fair: 'Religious politics is dangerous'

Amid ongoing Hijab controversy boiling in Karnataka, BJP MLC AH Vishwanath on Sunday, condemned politicisation of religious issues. Targetting his own party, he condemned ban of non-Hindu trers from an Udipi temple fair. Vishwanath - who jumped ship from JD(S) to BJP in 2019 - reminded that Muslims who remained in India after partition were Indian citizens, warning that using religion to gain power is dangerous.

AH Vishwanath slams BJP on targetting Muslims

"Shouldn't use religion to gain power. It's dangerous. How long can one survive using religious politics?," asked Vishwanath according to Public TV.

Condemning ban on Muslim shopkeepers from temple fairs, he said, "If Muslim countries start sending our employed citizens back to India, are you going to provide m jobs? Muslims who have stayed back in India during Partition are citizens of India. Stopping Muslims from opening shops at places is sorry state of affairs". 

Muslim vendors barred from Udipi temple fairs

On Thursday, Hosa Margudi temple in Udupi prohibited Muslim vendors from operating stalls at its temple fair.   ban was announced through posters and hoardings that were put up overnight ahe of famous tritional fair at temple. As per reports, more than 100 Muslim vendors set up stalls re. However, this time, amounting to pressure from right-wing activists, notices were issued, prohibiting Muslims from running stalls at fair.

temple authority denied authorising any such banner and said that it was put up without bringing in ir notice. " banner wasn't put up by temple authority. Somebody put it up without our notice," said Manohar Shetty, Temple ministrator. Bajrang Dal activists called for a 'Muslim Boycott' at annual temple fair across state and distributed pamphlets asking authorities to issue boycott.

Hijab row

This move comes days after Karnataka High Court maintained that 'Hijab is not an essential religious pratice' of Islam. Dismissing plea, HC noted that '(school/college) uniform is a reasonable restriction' levied by educational institution.  Six female students who were not allowed to wear hijabs inside Kundapura college h moved HC regarding case. Supreme Court too refused an urgent hearing on issue.

Since December Karnataka has been boil over protests for and against Hijabs in classrooms. It started when  Udipi's Kundapur PU college issued a circular - banning students from wearing hijabs in classrooms, claiming it was to ensure uniformity in classrooms. This decision led to uproar, with Hijab-cl female students and students wearing he-scarves were stopped from attending college. Escalating matter furr, students from or community (presumably Hindu) started wearing saffron scarves to college in protest against hijab-wearing Muslim students. To maintain order, state govt imposed a ban on wearing of clos that tend to disturb equality, integrity, and public order.