Gathering of 41 Muslim organisations in Bengaluru demands accountability on hijab row, reservation and minority rights
NEW DELHI — A major convention of Muslim organisations in Karnataka has raised sharp questions before the ruling Congress government over several promises made to Muslims and minorities during and after the 2023 assembly elections.
The “Karnataka Muslim Convention”, organised by the Federation of Karnataka State Muslim Organisations, was held on 16 May at the Town Hall in Bengaluru, where representatives of nearly 41 Muslim organisations gathered to discuss issues affecting the community.
Organisers said the convention was not meant as a confrontation but as an attempt to seek democratic accountability and remind the government of promises made to Muslims during the elections.
The event began with Suhail Ahmed Marur reading the Preamble of the Indian Constitution before the audience, while speakers repeatedly stressed that the convention was rooted in constitutional values and democratic rights.
Addressing the gathering, Yasin Malpe said Muslims played a major role in the 2023 election outcome that removed the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in Karnataka.
He said the Muslim community, which forms around 13 per cent of Karnataka’s population according to the 2011 Census, had voted decisively against the BJP and expected the Congress government to honour its assurances.
“The Muslim community is now asking for answers, not only assurances,” he said during the convention.
The organisers submitted a detailed report to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, ministers and legislators. The report is also expected to be sent to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The convention placed ten major demands before the government and highlighted what participants described as delays and incomplete implementation of promises related to Muslim rights, education, reservation and protection from communal targeting.
One of the biggest issues discussed was the hijab controversy.
The convention described the 2022 government order restricting hijab in educational institutions as one of the most painful experiences for Muslim girls in Karnataka.
According to the report discussed at the convention, more than 1,000 Muslim girls between the ages of 16 and 18 reportedly dropped out of college after the hijab restrictions.
Although the Congress government eventually withdrew the order this month, organisers questioned why it took nearly three years to reverse the decision despite earlier assurances by the government.
The convention also strongly raised the issue of restoring the four per cent reservation for Muslims under Category 2B, which had been removed by the previous BJP government and redistributed to Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities.
Participants said Congress leaders had promised restoration of the quota during the election campaign and in the first Cabinet meeting after coming to power, but the promise remained unfulfilled.
Another major concern discussed was the Karnataka Anti-Conversion Law.
Although the Congress Cabinet had announced plans to repeal the law in 2023, the related legislation was never passed.
Convention organisers described this as another “incomplete promise” and demanded formal repeal of the law.
The gathering also criticised the continued implementation of the Karnataka Animal Slaughter Prevention and Protection Act, 2020, saying it had badly affected Muslim meat traders, transporters, butchers and workers linked to the leather industry.
The report accused the government of failing to act despite earlier promises to review or repeal laws considered harmful to minorities.
The convention further demanded stronger protection for Waqf properties, alleging widespread encroachment, illegal sales and weak administration.
Muslim organisations also expressed concern about hate speech, communal campaigns, moral policing and violence in the name of cow protection.
The report claimed organisations linked to the RSS continued holding rallies and public events even in sensitive areas, while student groups and civil society organisations often faced difficulty obtaining permission for peaceful programmes.
The convention additionally criticised the government over minority welfare funding.
While Congress had promised an annual allocation of ₹10,000 crore for minority welfare, organisers pointed out that the current allocation remained below half of that amount.
Despite welcoming steps such as the Maulana Azad model schools and improvement of Urdu schools, the convention said Muslim education and welfare still lacked a comprehensive long-term policy.
Another major issue raised was the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, which participants described as a possible threat to voting rights in Muslim-majority areas.
The report demanded transparency and safeguards to prevent wrongful deletion of voters’ names.
Throughout the convention, speakers repeatedly stressed that the demands were constitutional and democratic rather than confrontational.
One participant said, “Votes are not only meant to bring governments to power. Votes also create accountability.”
The convention ended with a warning that if promises continued to remain unfulfilled, growing frustration among Muslims could shape future political choices in Karnataka.
Observers say the gathering reflects increasing attempts by Muslim organisations in different parts of India to collectively press political parties for accountability on issues affecting minorities rather than relying only on election-time assurances.
