BJP Criticizes Karnataka Government Over Viral Airport Prayer Video

A video showing a group of people offering Islamic prayers at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has sparked a political debate in Karnataka. The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows the prayers being conducted at Terminal-2 while security personnel stand nearby.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has raised questions about security protocols and government regulations.

BJP Karnataka spokesperson Vijay Prasad addressed the matter in a social media post late Saturday night, directly questioning Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Priyank Kharge about the incident.

“How is this even allowed inside the T2 Terminal of Bengaluru International Airport?” Prasad asked, demanding to know whether the individuals had obtained prior permission before offering prayers in the high-security zone.

The BJP leader pointed out what he called a double standard in the state government’s approach. He questioned why the government requires organizations like the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) to obtain permission for their route marches, but appears to overlook similar activities in restricted public areas.

“Why does the government object when RSS conducts route marches after getting proper permission, but ignores such activities in a sensitive airport zone?” Prasad questioned.

The spokesperson also raised concerns about security risks, asking whether such activities in a high-security airport area should be allowed without proper authorization.

The controversy comes at a time when Karnataka has recently introduced new rules regarding public gatherings and activities in public spaces. The BJP claims these rules were designed to restrict their organization’s activities while being lenient toward others.

So far, neither Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor Minister Priyank Kharge has responded to the BJP’s questions about the incident.