Karnataka Minister's comments on allowing schools to celebrate Ganesha festival draws flak

Karnataka Education Minister B C Nagesh's remarks over allowing celebration of Ganesha Chathurthi festival in schools in the state has drawn criticism from a section of the Muslim community.

Published on: Aug 19, 2022, 08:25:43 IST

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Karnataka Education Minister B C Nagesh's remarks over allowing celebration of Ganesha Chathurthi festival in schools in the state has drawn criticism from a section of the Muslim community.

Education minister BC Nagesh is under fire from a section of the Muslim community who challenged why a Hindu festival is being permitted when hijab was not allowed inside educational institutions. (HT File)

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, Nagesh said, "There is freedom to celebrate Ganesha festival in schools..." "We will not say no to those who want to do it (celebrate) for the first time. This is only a system to unite society. They can take our permission for it."

Targeting the Education Minister over his comments, SDPI District Working Committee member, Umar Farukh said the government is 'biased.' "When Hijab was not allowed inside educational institutions, why a Hindu festival is being permitted? Religion is a personal issue," he said.

"When the Education Minister is allowing religious event of a particular community, then he is duty-bound to allow others too," he added.

However, Wakf Board chairman Maulana Shafi Saadi on Thursday said every faith should be taught in educational institutions. "The Education Minister has said Ganesha festival can be organised in schools. It is a positive development. It has been our long-pending stand. Whichever school or college, students of all faith should be given an opportunity to spread awareness about their religion and customs, which will help them grow morally," Saadi said.

The Maulvi stressed on the need for moral education, saying today consumption of cannabis, rowdyism and enmity amongst students are issues dominating the campus. "To put an end to this, allow celebration of Ganesha festival and Islamic festivals in schools," Saadi urged. Meanwhile, BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa said those seeking permission for Islamic prayer in schools will face difficulties. "Let them (Muslims) celebrate their festivals at home," he said.

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Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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