2 BJP legislators oppose Karnataka govt's ban on Muslim traders

In what can be seen as dissent within the party, two legislators of the ruling BJP in Karnataka have called out the restrictions imposed on Muslim traders barring them from participating in temple festivals.

MLC AH Vishwanath and MLA Anil Benake have termed the state government's decision 'wrong and undemocratic'.

Speaking on the matter, Vishwanath said, 'I cannot understand on what basis they are targeting Muslim vendors and businesses. This is a very sorry state of affairs. The government must take action or there will be a reaction from the people.'

Vishwanath is a former Congress minister and ex-state president of JD(S). The veteran OBC leader switched to the BJP in 2019 to help the party and its leader BS Yediyurappa come to power in Karnataka.

Benake, the MLA from Muslim-dominated Belagavi North constituency, said, 'under the Constitution, everybody has equal rights. Anybody can conduct business anywhere and people must decide where they want to buy from, that is all.'

The BJP government, on the other hand, has justified the curbs while citing the rule introduced in 2002, during the Congress’s tenure, to bar non-Hindus from running shops in temple premises.

The decision to ban Muslim traders from fairs and festivals held in Hindu temples reportedly came following the demands by religious groups like VHP, Hindu Jagarana Vedike, Bajrang Dal and Sree Rama Sene.

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