BJP questions Karnataka government after video of namaz in Bengaluru airport goes viral

A video purportedly showing a group of people offering 'namaz' (Islamic prayer) at Terminal-2 of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has ignited a political controversy in Karnataka, with the opposition BJP taking exception to the incident and demanding accountability from the State Government.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows security personnel nearby observing the group offering prayers.

BJP Karnataka unit spokesperson Vijay Prasad asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge whether those who offer prayers in a public place had obtained prior permission as mandated in the recent rule framed by the State Government.

"How is this even allowed inside the T2 Terminal of Bengaluru International Airport? Hon’ble Chief Minister @siddaramaiah and Minister @PriyankKharge do you approve of this?" Prasad asked in a post on X late November 8 night. "Did these individuals obtain prior permission to offer Namaz in a high-security airport zone?"

Referring to the rules, which the BJP alleged were framed to restrict RSS activities in the State, Prasad said, "Why is it that the government objects when the RSS conducts patha sanchalana (route march) after obtaining due permission from the authorities concerned, but turns a blind eye to such activities in a restricted public area?"

The BJP spokesperson sought to know whether ‘this activity is a serious security concern in such a sensitive zone’.