The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched an attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, criticizing its decision to appoint a non-Hindu person as a member of the Avimukteswara Brahmarathotsav Samiti, a government-run religious organization in Hoskote town in rural Bengaluru.
The move sparked outrage within the BJP, with MLA Sarath Bachegowda initially demanding “a committee to oversee the development plans of Avimukteswara Brahmarathotsava”.
At Bachegowda’s request, the Hoskote tehsildar appointed 12 committee members, including a Muslim man identified as Nawaz. The choice drew strong condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which expressed concerns about “encroachment on Hindu religious matters by non-Hindu entities.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party took to social media platforms to criticize the Congress government’s decision, stressing that it was yet another instance of “what they see as an attack on Hindu traditions and beliefs”. In an official statement shared on However, the post was removed after an appeal to Congress.
The BJP accused the Congress of “pursuing an agenda that purportedly favors certain communities at the expense of Hindu rights” and warned of “potential consequences of such appointments”, suggesting it could set a “precedent for similar actions across the country”.
The latest controversy has reignited tensions between the BJP and the Karnataka Congress, with the BJP exploiting the issue to shore up its position among Hindu voters. The BJP stressed its commitment to “safeguarding Hindu interests” and issued a stern warning that “appointments of non-Hindus into Hindu temples will not be tolerated”.
In its response, the Congress party said, “Despite being condemned by the Election Commission and international authorities for spreading false and malicious content, the propaganda machine of the BJP seems to have remained unyielding. Appointment of people from different religious backgrounds as Avimukteswara in Hoskote Brahmakalashotsava Samiti is not a departure from tradition but a long-standing practice.”
“In 2020 and 2022, individuals from minority communities were appointed as members of the committee and gave recommendations from BJP MLA MTB Nagaraj even as the state came under BJP governance. If the BJP wants Concerns about the current situation must be addressed and the issue of appointments during his term must be addressed. The people are the final arbiter and will not be swayed by deceitful tactics,” the statement concluded.
The party also released details of appointing a non-Hindu in 2020 and 2021 as well as when the BJP is in power in the state, and in both cases it was recommended by a BJP MLA.
Responding to the issue on social media platform, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked, “BJP leaders, why do you keep handing us a hammer to fight back against you?” He asked them to stop spreading lies and face social impact.
“The Avi Mukteshwara Swamy Temple in Hoskote embodies the Hindu spirit of tolerance for all religions. People of different faiths participate religiously and respectfully in every religious event there,” he said. He narrated the instance of the BJP government when it was in power in 2020 and 2022 appointing members of minority communities to the same Brahmarathotsava committee.