'Blatant misuse of govt platforms': BJP vs Congress on Quran recital at Karnataka event

(Screengrab/X)

A fresh political row has broken out in Karnataka over a recital from Quran at an event in Hubballi at what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the misuse of a "government programme".

The incident took place on October 5, during the inauguration of development works on Devar Gudihal Road and the symbolic distribution of sewing machines to beneficiaries.

The BJP accused the ruling Congress of misusing a government platform for religious purposes, while the state government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed the claims, referring to them as politically motivated, according to a report by News18.

The Congress also rubbished the allegations on all counts, including disputing the claim that it was a government programme.

BJP MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad, however, criticised the Congress, saying, “It was a government function. How can they call an Imam and make them recite Quran… There were Congress flags at a government event and the officials present were acting like party workers."

Blatant misuse of government platforms by the @INCKarnataka government in Karnataka!

In Hubballi, a publicly funded event was hijacked by Congress leaders and officials — turned into a full-fledged party show. Party banners on stage, Quran recitation in a government function,… pic.twitter.com/oz3mtsCBI4

— Arvind Bellad (@BelladArvind) October 8, 2025

Bellad, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), called it a “blatant misuse of a government platform by the Congress."

He also revealed that he had written to the Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, demanding a formal inquiry and “immediate action against the concerned officials." The BJP leader warned that if the government failed to respond, the matter would be “raised strongly in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session."

State minister Santosh Lad, who was present on the occasion and gifted sewing machines to beneficiaries, said, "He has only taken this particular video and showing it. There was a recital from Quran. But there were other recitals too, for Hindu gods and goddesses... So many recitals from Hindu religion. So why he has objections I do not know".

Lad also insisted that it was not a government programme. "It was organized by corporators of the Congress," he said, insisting that there was nothing wrong with displaying Congress flags at such an event.