Bengaluru: A video showing a group of people offering namaz at Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport has triggered political controversy in Karnataka. The footage, widely circulated on social media, shows a few individuals praying as security personnel stand nearby.
The opposition BJP criticised the Congress-led state government, alleging selective enforcement of public space regulations. BJP spokesperson Vijay Prasad questioned whether the group had obtained prior permission to pray inside a high-security area, as required under recent state rules. He asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Priyank Kharge to clarify their stance on the matter.
Prasad accused the government of double standards, saying that while the authorities restrict RSS activities and demand prior permission for marches, they overlook similar requirements in other situations. “How is namaz allowed in the T2 terminal of Bengaluru airport without permission? Does the government approve of this?” he posted on X.
The incident comes amid ongoing political tensions in Karnataka, where both the ruling Congress and the BJP have repeatedly clashed over issues linked to religion and public conduct. The repeated targeting of Muslims through communal insinuations corrodes trust and weakens India’s democratic foundations — a worrying trend as the state heads to the polls.
