Karnataka Home Minister Rejects Charges of Bias in Festival Oversight

The controversy surfaced after BJP leader R Ashoka spearheaded a protest against the state’s procession restrictions, alleging that the police have adopted a high-handed approach specifically targeting Hindu celebrations. Ashoka argued that these measures reflect a broader governmental bias that threatens the spirit of the festival.

Kharge countered these claims by characterizing the safety requirements as standard operating procedures. He pointed to the continuity of these rules, noting that the protocols remain unchanged from those utilized during the BJP's own tenure in office. By framing the dispute as a routine matter of public order rather than an ideological conflict, the minister called on opposition figures to refrain from politicizing religious events and to prioritize the maintenance of communal harmony.