3 days ago
Karnataka Minister’s Islam Remarks Spark BJP Demand for Sacking
Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddi spoke about Islam at a mass marriage event in Koppal district.
He said Islam was a great, humane, disciplined and scientific religion.
Some reports quoted him as saying Islam was superior to all other religions.
He also said people should learn about every religion and follow their good teachings.
He asked people not to be bigoted or casteist.
Rayareddi said he wanted to visit Mecca but believed a person must convert to Islam to go there.
BJP leaders said his words made Hinduism and other religions seem less important.
They asked him to apologise, or asked Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to remove him.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi called Islam superior or greater than other religions at a Koppal event.
Rayareddi praised Islam as humane, disciplined and scientific, and urged people to study all religions and reject bigotry and casteism.
He said he wanted to visit Mecca and undertake the Hajj pilgrimage but believed conversion was required.
Rayareddi later said he meant Islam contained superior thoughts and did not intend to call other religions inferior.
BJP leaders R Ashoka and Basavaraj Bommai demanded an apology and threatened calls for Rayareddi’s removal from the Cabinet.
- Who
- Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi made the remarks; BJP leaders R Ashoka, Basavaraj Bommai and B.Y. Vijayendra criticised them. Congress leader Priyank Kharge defended the broader message that all religions have positive aspects.
- What
- Rayareddi praised Islam and was reported to have called it superior to other religions, then clarified that he meant it contained superior thoughts and had not called other religions inferior. The BJP demanded an apology or his removal.
- Where
- A mass marriage ceremony in Kukkanur or Kuknoor, Koppal district, Karnataka.
- When
- Rayareddi spoke on Sunday, August 30; BJP criticism and demands were reported on Monday. The year is not specified.
- Why
- Rayareddi said he was addressing misconceptions about Islam and encouraging people to study religions and their histories. BJP leaders said ranking religions hurt Hindu sentiments and violated the principle of equal respect for faiths.
Rayareddi and Congress Defence
BJP Criticism
Meaning of the remarks
Rayareddi and Congress Defence
Rayareddi praised Islam’s humanitarian and other teachings, encouraged study of all religions, and later said he referred to superior thoughts rather than declaring other religions inferior. Priyank Kharge said positive aspects could be learned from Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
BJP Criticism
R Ashoka and Basavaraj Bommai said calling Islam superior demeaned Hinduism and hurt the sentiments of people belonging to other religions.
Religious equality
Rayareddi and Congress Defence
Rayareddi said all religions contain good and bad people and teachings, and that religions should be respected for humanity’s well-being.
BJP Criticism
Ashoka argued that ministers’ constitutional oaths require equal respect for all faiths and said religions should not be ranked.
Political consequences
Rayareddi and Congress Defence
The reports describe Rayareddi’s clarification and Congress’s defence but do not report an apology or withdrawal.
BJP Criticism
The BJP demanded that Rayareddi withdraw his statement and apologise to Hindus; otherwise, it called for D K Shivakumar to sack or remove him from the Cabinet.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Basavaraj Rayareddi, Karnataka Higher Education Minister and Yelaburga MLA
- Event
- Mass marriage ceremony organised for members of the Muslim community in Kukkanur/Kuknoor
- Rayareddi’s praise
- He described Islam as great, superior, highly humanitarian, disciplined and scientific.
- Interfaith message
- He urged people to study religions and their histories, respect their good teachings, and reject fanaticism, bigotry and casteism.
- Mecca and Hajj
- Rayareddi said he wished to visit Mecca and undertake the Hajj pilgrimage but believed conversion was required.
- Clarification
- Rayareddi said he meant Islam had certain superior thoughts and did not say other religions were inferior.
- BJP demand
- R Ashoka and Basavaraj Bommai called for an apology and said Chief Minister D K Shivakumar should remove or take action against Rayareddi if he refused.
Quotes
Basavaraj Rayareddy
Karnataka Higher Education Minister who made the remarks about Islam.
“Listen closely to the arrogant statements of Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy. By saying 'I don't go to mutts or temples,' he has belittled the faith centres of millions of Hindus in the state. By making statements like 'Islam is superior to other religions,' he has demeaned Sanatan Dharma.”
NDTV
“Basavaraj Rayareddy seems to be stuck in the 7th century to appease his voters...I request everybody to read the texts of different religions, and then you can make conclusions. You are not an expert; please remember that.”
NDTV
Sources
"Islam Superior," Says Karnataka Minister. BJP Demands Apology To Hindus
Islam is ‘greater’ than other religions, says K’taka Minister Rayareddi
Don't rank religions: BJP to Karnataka Minister over Islam remark, accuses Cong of ‘anti-Hindu mindset’
“Islam A Superior Religion,” Karnataka Higher Education Minister, BJP Demands His Sacking
‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology
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