Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Karnataka on Monday, 31 August sharply criticised Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi over his reported remarks praising Islam at a Muslim community event, accusing the ruling Congress government of fostering an 'anti-Hindu mindset' and practising appeasement politics. The BJP's Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, and former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai both demanded an immediate apology from the minister.

What Rayareddi Said

The controversy stems from remarks Rayareddi made at a free mass marriage ceremony organised for the Muslim community at Kukanur, held on the occasion of Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary. At the event, Rayareddi reportedly praised Islam and said there was something to learn from every religion. He also expressed a desire to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage, urged people to study different religions and their histories, and cautioned against religious fanaticism and casteism. Congress leaders have since defended the remarks as a call to appreciate the positive aspects of all faiths.

BJP's Attack on Congress and Rahul Gandhi

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.

Directing his remarks at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Ashoka stressed that ministers were bound by constitutional oaths to treat all faiths equally. '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 further alleged that Rayareddi's remarks were 'not an isolated slip of the tongue' but 'a direct reflection of the pseudo-secular ideology preached by Rahul Gandhi and the INC High Command, where belittling the Hindu faith is rewarded and appeasement politics is institutionalized.'

Bommai Demands Apology, Warns of Action

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said Rayareddi had 'insulted the Constitution' under which he had taken his oath of office. Bommai accused the minister of hurting the sentiments of people belonging to religions other than Islam and of disturbing communal harmony. '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 demanded that Rayareddi apologise immediately and called upon Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take action against the minister if he refused. 'The people of the state are demanding that he apologise immediately. Otherwise, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should take action against him,' Bommai said.

Congress Defends the Remarks

Senior Congress leaders have pushed back against the BJP's criticism. Home Minister Priyank Kharge questioned what was objectionable about Rayareddi's statement, arguing that there is something to learn from every religion — including Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. The Congress position is that the minister's comments were an appeal to inter-faith learning, not a ranking of religions. Notably, this is not the first time religious remarks by a Karnataka Congress minister have triggered a political flashpoint, underscoring the fragile communal optics in a state that goes to the polls in regional cycles.

Political Fallout

The row reflects a broader pattern of BJP targeting the Congress-led Karnataka government over what it characterises as minority appeasement. For the Congress, the challenge is to defend the remarks without allowing the BJP to consolidate a Hindu consolidation narrative ahead of future electoral contests. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has not yet publicly commented on the controversy, and it remains to be seen whether the government will take any disciplinary action against Rayareddi.