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BJP leaders have alleged that the gathering was an official government event and that the recital of verses from the Quran violated official protocol.
The video of the event has sparked a political row
A fresh political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after a video showing a Quran recital at an event in Hubballi went viral. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Congress of misusing a government platform for religious purposes, while the state government led by CM Siddaramaiah has dismissed the claims, referring to them as politically motivated.
The incident took place on October 5, during the inauguration of development works on Devar Gudihal Road and the symbolic distribution of sewing machines to beneficiaries.
The event also witnessed the presence of Labour and District In-charge Minister Santosh Lad, who also announced projects worth Rs 14 crore.
BJP leaders, however, alleged that the gathering was an official government event and that the recital of verses from the Quran violated official protocol. BJP MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad criticised the Congress, saying, “It was a government function. How can they call an Imam and make them recite Quran… There were Congress flags at a government event and the officials present were acting like party workers.”
Bellad, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), called it a “blatant misuse of a government platform by the Congress.” He also revealed that he had written to the Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, demanding a formal inquiry and “immediate action against the concerned officials.” The BJP leader warned that if the government failed to respond, the matter would be “raised strongly in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session.”
Blatant misuse of government platforms by the @INCKarnataka government in Karnataka!In Hubballi, a publicly funded event was hijacked by Congress leaders and officials — turned into a full-fledged party show. Party banners on stage, Quran recitation in a government function,… pic.twitter.com/oz3mtsCBI4
— Arvind Bellad (@BelladArvind) October 8, 2025
Reacting to the criticism, Minister Santosh Lad, who was present at the event, refuted the allegations. He argued that the video shared online showed only one part of the event and did not reflect the complete picture. “He has only taken this particular video and showing it. There was a recital from Quran. But there were other recitals too, for Hindu gods and goddesses… So many recitals from Hindu religion. So why he has objections I do not know,” Lad said.
The minister further clarified that the programme was not a government event but was “organised by corporators of the Congress.” He defended the presence of party flags, saying there was nothing inappropriate about displaying them at such a function.
The row adds to the growing political tension in Karnataka, with the opposition and ruling party locked in a heated exchange over religious representation, protocol, and the use of public platforms for political messaging.
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
October 09, 2025, 18:04 IST
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