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'Misinformation': Karnataka BJP Deletes Another Social Media Post, This Time on Temple Panel

'South First' has reported that the post was taken down after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government said the appointment of a non-Hindu to the temple committee was a tradition followed even during BJP rule.
The now-deleted post overlaid on an image of Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra. Photo: South First and official X.

The Karnataka unit of BJP was on Wednesday, May 8, compelled to delete a second post in as many days from its official accounts on social media platforms over misleading and controversial posts targeting the Muslim community.

A post was taken down after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government called out the misinformation reportedly peddled by the BJP over appointment of members to a temple committee.

Objecting to the appointment of a member of the Muslim community to the “Brahmarathotsava” (car festival) committee of the Avimukteshwara Swamy Temple of Hosakote, Karnataka BJP said the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state was attempting to loot and take control of Hindus temples and their resources by appointing non-Hindus.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Muzrai Ramalinga Reddy were quick to call out Karnataka BJP on this.

They pointed out that appointing a member from the Muslim community to the car festival committee was a practice followed for several years — and was implemented even during the BJP rule in the state.

Reddy noted that a non-Hindu was appointed to the panel in 2020 and 2021 as well, when BJP was at the helm in the state. He added that appointments happened on the recommendation of then-minister MTB Nagaraj.

Based on the recommendations of Hosakote MLA Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, the Hosakote tahsildar on Monday issued an order appointing 12 members — including a member from a Muslim community.

BJP’s misinformation

In its latest misleading post, Karnataka BJP said: “Congress appointed ‘Nawaz’ to oversee the Brahmotsavam event at the Shri Avimukteshwara Swamy temple in Hosakote.”


It added: “After attempting to loot our temples, the Hindu-hating CM Siddaramaiah now seeks to control temples and their resources by appointing non-Hindus.”

It also said: “Congress government in Karnataka appears to be in a hurry to implement Rahul Gandhi’s delusional ideas of stripping Hindus of their rights, to favour one particular community.”

It continued: “Today, it’s just one temple in Karnataka, tomorrow it might be every temple in India.”

After Karnataka BJP put up this misleading post on its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), several BJP leaders — including former national general secretary CT Ravi — shared the posts on their official accounts as well.

Congress calls out post

Within hours of Karnataka BJP putting out this post on social media, the Congress government — including Siddaramaiah and Ramalinga Reddy — called out the misinformation peddled by the Opposition party.

They buttressed their point with evidence, presenting the orders of the Hosakote tahsildar from previous years on the matter.

The Congress government claimed that the practice of appointing a member of the Muslim community to the car festival committee of the temple had been in place for several years, and that it happened even during the BJP rule in the state.

In an exclusive conversation with the South First, Minister for Muzrai Ramalinga Reddy said: “The annual Brahmarathotsava has been celebrated for a long time. A temporary committee is constituted every year at the time of the festival.”

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