The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised the offering of namaz at the Bengaluru airport premises, questioning how such an act was allowed in a high-security zone. Party spokesperson Vijay Prasad also sought clarification from Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and IT Minister Priyank Kharge over the alleged approval.
According to Prasad, the undated incident took place at Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru.
"Did these individuals obtain prior permission to offer Namaz in a high-security airport zone? Why is it that the government objects when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh conducts Patha Sanchalana after obtaining due permission from the concerned authorities, but turns a blind eye to such activities in a restricted public area?" he tweeted on Sunday night.
"Does this not pose a serious security concern in such a sensitive zone?" he asked, sharing a photo and a video of the undated incident.
Speaking to the media on Monday, he reiterated his objection, questioning how such an act was allowed inside a high-security zone.
"I want to ask the Chief Minister and IT Minister if they approve of the act. These people obtained prior approval to offer namaz in a high-security airport zone... Why such double standards? Can this be accepted?" he asked.
"There is heavy security at Terminal 2 of the Bengaluru airport. But the police or any other person did not try to stop this. This shows the double standards of the Congress government, and it is a clear appeasement to one section of the community," Prasad added.
Monday’s development comes a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that his government’s directive requiring private organisations to seek permission for holding events in public spaces was not aimed specifically at the RSS.
"We didn’t specifically mention the RSS anywhere in the order. Any organisation must obtain permission from district authorities to conduct an event. What can we do if they assume it is about the RSS?" he told reporters.
When asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on the organisation’s registration status, Siddaramaiah declined to respond. In a veiled dig at Congress leaders who criticised the RSS for operating without formal registration, Bhagwat had on Sunday described the Hindu outfit as being recognised as a body of individuals.
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