Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi triggered a sharp political controversy on Sunday, 31 August after describing Islam as 'shreshta dharam' (great religion) and expressing a desire to visit Mecca, during a mass marriage programme organised by the Muslim community in Kuknoor, Koppal district. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) moved swiftly to condemn the remarks, while Congress leaders defended the minister, framing his words as a matter of personal belief protected under the Constitution.

What the Minister Said

Addressing the gathering in Koppal, Rayareddi said, 'I would like to say that Islam is shreshta dharam (great religion) than other dharmas,' adding that he believed several misconceptions surrounded the religion. He also reportedly expressed a desire to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. The event, a community mass marriage, drew the minister as a guest speaker.

BJP's Criticism

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain acknowledged that the desire to perform Hajj was a personal matter, but pointed out that the pilgrimage is restricted to Muslims. 'Hajj can only be performed by someone who is a Muslim. For that, one will have to adopt Islam. If they want to go to Mecca and Medina and perform Hajj, they cannot do so without adopting Islam,' Hussain said. He added that the Constitution guarantees citizens the freedom to adopt and practise a religion of their choice, and that Congress leaders should respond to the minister's remarks.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Chalwadi Narayan Swami, accused the Congress of 'appeasement politics,' saying, 'When a politician does such dirty work for the sake of a vote bank, how can we accept this.' He further called Rayareddi's statement 'very wrong,' asserting that it 'condemned Hindutva' and termed it a 'sin' for a Hindu to speak against Hindutva.

Congress Defends the Remarks

Congress leader Udit Raj defended Rayareddi, citing constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. 'India guarantees freedom of expression. It is their choice and personal opinion. Someone may consider Christianity great, someone Judaism, someone Islam, someone Hinduism, or someone Buddhism. That is their personal matter,' Raj said.

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also came to Rayareddi's defence, arguing the minister had stated there was something to learn from every religion. 'There are certain aspects of Islam, Buddhism, Jainism or Hinduism that anybody can adopt and should adopt. What is wrong with that?' Kharge said. He also questioned the BJP's criticism by referencing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's own remarks on the inclusion of Muslims in India.

Other Reactions

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said every citizen has the constitutional right to follow their religion and faith. 'If someone wants to visit Mecca, they are free to do so. However, they should follow all the rules and regulations there,' Verma said. This comes amid a broader national debate over the boundaries between personal religious expression and political conduct, a tension that has repeatedly surfaced around elected officials across party lines.

Political Context

The episode adds to a pattern of religion-linked controversies in Karnataka, a state where the BJP and Congress have clashed repeatedly over issues of communal identity and minority outreach ahead of local body elections. Notably, this is not the first time a Congress-governed Karnataka has faced BJP allegations of vote-bank politics — the accusation has become a recurring feature of the state's political landscape since the Congress returned to power in 2023. How the ruling party manages the fallout could have implications for its positioning ahead of future electoral contests in the state.