Karnataka BJP slams Congress over hijab, Aland riots case withdrawal
Synopsis
Karnataka's BJP opposition leader R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of withdrawing communal riot cases and reintroducing the hijab policy purely for minority votes — while also alleging that two major infrastructure projects, the Anekal stadium and Bidadi township, mask real estate dealings that could benefit DK Shivakumar by thousands of crores.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka , Karnataka Leader of the Opposition, on 23 May accused the Congress government of minority appeasement through the hijab policy reintroduction and Aland riots case withdrawal.
Ashoka alleged cases were dropped against accused who attacked police personnel and damaged a Union minister's vehicle .
He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of pursuing 'anti-Constitutional policies' and demanded immediate reversal of the case withdrawal order.
The BJP leader alleged the proposed Anekal cricket stadium project is proceeding despite farmer and environmentalist opposition.
Ashoka claimed Deputy CM D.K.
Shivakumar stands to benefit by 'thousands of crores' from the revived Bidadi township project.
He alleged the state government would earn ₹6,000–₹7,000 crore in additional tax revenue from the recent fuel price hike.
Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday, 23 May launched a sharp attack on the state's Congress government, alleging that decisions to reintroduce the hijab policy and withdraw the Aland riots case were driven by minority appeasement rather than constitutional principles. Ashoka made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Bengaluru.
Key Allegations on Case Withdrawals
Ashoka alleged that the Congress-led state government had systematically dropped cases against individuals accused of communal violence, including those who allegedly attacked police personnel and damaged the vehicle of a Union minister. He called the withdrawals a betrayal of the majority community and demanded the government immediately reverse the order.
'Even if this government is washed with detergent and antiseptic, its mentality will not change. Withdrawing cases against those who allegedly incited communal violence is not right,' Ashoka said. He also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of pursuing what he termed 'anti-Constitutional policies', arguing that it was the government's duty to take all communities together rather than favour one.
Hijab Policy and Minority Appeasement Charge
The BJP leader alleged that the reintroduction of the hijab policy in Karnataka was another instance of the Congress government's appeasement politics. He urged the government to instead prioritise withdrawing cases against farmers and pro-Kannada activists, groups he said had been overlooked.
This comes amid a broader political contest in Karnataka between the ruling Congress and the BJP over the state's stance on religious and cultural issues — a fault line that has repeatedly shaped electoral outcomes in the state since at least 2022.
Anekal Stadium and Bidadi Township Projects
Ashoka also trained his fire on two infrastructure projects. On the proposed cricket stadium near Anekal, he questioned the rationale for a new facility when the existing stadium is used only a few times a year, and alleged that the project was proceeding despite opposition from farmers and environmentalists. He demanded the government disclose details of land surrounding the proposed site and called on the Housing Board to prioritise homes for the homeless.
On the Bidadi township project, Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was reviving a scheme the BJP had earlier shelved, and that it amounted to building a township 'over the graves of farmers.' He claimed Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar stood to benefit by 'thousands of crores' through what he described as real estate dealings. He alleged similar patterns across Karnataka, from Bidar to Chamarajanagar, and warned the government would not survive politically if farmers turned against it.
Fuel Price Hike Criticism
Commenting on the recent fuel price increase, Ashoka alleged that the Karnataka state government — not the Centre — was the primary beneficiary, claiming the state would earn between ₹6,000 crore and ₹7,000 crore in additional tax revenue as a result.
With assembly elections on the horizon, the BJP's multi-front offensive signals an intent to keep the Congress on the defensive across communal, agrarian, and governance issues simultaneously.
Point of View
But the substance deserves scrutiny on each count. The allegation that riot case withdrawals covered attacks on police is the most serious charge — if verified, it raises genuine rule-of-law questions that go beyond partisan framing. The hijab issue, however, is well-worn electoral terrain; the BJP has used it since 2022, and its returns are diminishing in urban Karnataka. The Bidadi and Anekal allegations are serious but rest entirely on Ashoka's assertion — no documentary evidence was cited. The fuel price framing is also selective: state VAT on fuel is a structural issue that predates the current Congress government. The BJP's real challenge is that Karnataka voters returned the Congress with a clear majority in 2023; opposition rhetoric alone rarely moves the needle without a credible alternative agenda.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnataka BJP attacking the Congress over the Aland riots case?
The BJP alleges that the Congress government withdrew cases against individuals accused of inciting communal violence during the Aland riots, including those who reportedly attacked police and damaged a Union minister's vehicle. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has called this a betrayal of constitutional principles and demanded the order be reversed.
What is the Karnataka hijab controversy about?
The Congress government in Karnataka reportedly reintroduced the hijab policy after the previous BJP government had restricted it. The BJP under R. Ashoka has characterised this move as minority appeasement, while the Congress frames it as a matter of personal religious freedom.
What are the allegations against the Bidadi township project?
R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress government revived a township project near Bidadi that the BJP had earlier shelved, claiming it amounts to building over farmland and that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar could benefit financially by thousands of crores. The government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Why is the BJP questioning the Anekal cricket stadium project?
Ashoka argued that a new cricket stadium near Anekal is unnecessary given that the existing facility is used only a few times a year. He alleged the project is moving forward despite opposition from farmers and environmentalists, and called on the Housing Board to instead build homes for the homeless.
How does the fuel price hike factor into the BJP's criticism?
Ashoka alleged that the Centre does not benefit from the recent fuel price increase, and that the Karnataka state government would instead collect between ₹6,000 crore and ₹7,000 crore in additional tax revenue — framing the hike as a state-level fiscal gain rather than a central policy decision.
