Bengaluru, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Monday launched a sharp attack on Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi over his reported “Islam is superior” remarks, accusing the Congress party of insulting Sanatana Dharma for “vote-bank politics”.
Taking to social media platform X, Ashoka questioned whether there was “any boundary left” for Congress when it came to allegedly insulting Hinduism.
“Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy has openly disparaged the Hindu faith by declaring Islam to be ‘superior to other religions’ and publicly boasting about avoiding Hindu mutts and temples,” Ashoka said.
Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Ashoka said ministers were bound by their constitutional oaths to uphold equality and treat all religions with equal respect.
“Mr. Rahul Gandhi, constitutional oaths bind ministers to uphold equality and treat all faiths with equal respect - not to rank religions or declare one superior to another,” he said.
Ashoka alleged that Rayareddi’s remarks were not an isolated statement but reflected what he described as the “pseudo-secular ideology” of the Congress leadership.
“This is not an isolated slip of the tongue. It is a direct reflection of the pseudo-secular ideology preached by Rahul Gandhi and the INC India High Command, where belittling the Hindu faith is rewarded and appeasement politics is institutionalized,” he said.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai also criticised Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi over his controversial remarks on Islam, accusing him of violating the spirit of the Constitution and hurting the sentiments of people belonging to other religions.
In a statement, Bommai said Rayareddi, whom he described as the “most intelligent minister” in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s government, had once again made a controversial statement and “insulted the Constitution” under which he had taken the oath of office.
Bommai said secularism was one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution and alleged that Rayareddi had hurt the sentiments of people belonging to religions other than Islam by saying that one religion was superior to another.
“As a minister, by saying that one religion is superior to another, Rayareddi has hurt the sentiments of people belonging to religions other than Islam,” Bommai said.
He accused the minister of disturbing communal harmony in society and said such conduct was unbecoming of a minister.
“Rayareddi has disturbed communal harmony in society. This is not the work of a minister,” Bommai said.
Bommai demanded that Rayareddi immediately apologise for his remarks. He also called upon Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take action against the minister if he failed to apologise.
“The people of the state are demanding that he apologise immediately. Otherwise, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should take action against him,” Bommai said.
Ashoka and Bommai’s comments come amid a political row over Rayareddi’s recent remarks on Islam. Speaking at a free mass marriage ceremony organised for members of the Muslim community at Kukanur on the occasion of Prophet Muhammad’s birth anniversary, Rayareddi had praised Islam and said there was something to learn from every religion.
Rayareddi had also expressed his desire to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage and said people should study different religions and understand the history behind them. He stressed that good principles were present in all religions and cautioned against religious fanaticism and casteism.
The remarks have drawn criticism from BJP leaders, who have accused the Congress minister of hurting Hindu sentiments. Congress leaders, meanwhile, have defended Rayareddi, saying his comments were about learning from the positive aspects of different religions.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier questioned what was wrong with Rayareddi’s statement, saying there was something to learn from every religion, including Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
Source: IANS
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