A BJP legislator in Karnataka has come out against the recent allegations that Muslims are being banned from opening stalls on temple premises. MLC H. Vishwanath
called the move illogical. According to The New Indian Express, he said: "The government should break its silence and take action against temple authorities, otherwise people will act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the message of ‘sab ka vikas and vishwas’. But, our state is moving in the wrong direction. How are those Muslims, who sell flowers, fruits, and puja material near temples, going to earn their livelihood? It amounts to untouchability."
The communal divide in Karnataka is only increasing. After the hijab controversy rocked the state with pro and anti hijab protests, followed by the Muslim religious leaders calling for a state-wide bandh on March 17 to protest the High Court judgement that upheld the hijab ban inside the classrooms, the recent ban on Muslim vendors at Hindu temple fairs and festivals is widening the rift between the two communities, especially in coastal Karnataka and Malnad regions.
The first temple to ban Muslims from setting up the stalls was Hosa Marigudi temple in Kaup in Udupi district, which did not allow Muslims to bid for the shops during the 'Suggi Mari puje', an annual fair. The temple managing committee also barred sub contracting of the shops to non-Hindus.
“The local devotees were outraged when Muslims shut their shops on March 17, to support the bandh to protest the hijab case verdict. We welcome the temple committee decision,” said Prakash Kukkehalli, an office-bearer of Hindu Jagaran Vedike, Mangaluru.
After the Kaup incident, similar bans were imposed in Mahalingeshwara temple in Puttur and Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari temple in Dakshina Kannada, and Hindu activists have been appealing to major temples in Hassan (Chenna Keshava temple in Belur), Chikkamagaluru (Sringeri temple), Tumakuru, Shivamogga and Bengaluru not to allow Muslim traders to transact business during Hindu temple fairs.
-Inputs from Prathima Nandakumar
