In response, the woman loudly chanted Allahu Akbar, leading to a brief period of tension. Authorities intervened, placing the woman in a police jeep and taking her to a safe location
Team Clarion
SHIMOGA – Amid the nationwide celebrations of Pran Pratishtha, an alarming incident unfolded in Shimoga, Karnataka, where the joyous atmosphere took a tense turn. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), celebrating the occasion, reportedly blocked roads, set up pandals, and distributed sweets. In the midst of this celebration, a Hijabi woman found herself caught in the jubilant crowd, leading to a confrontational situation.
As the woman, accompanied by her child on a scooter, attempted to pass through the crowded area, hundreds of Hindus gathered there started chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ In response, the woman boldly raised the slogan of ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Videos of this incident have gone viral on social media, highlighting the tense exchange between the celebrants and the woman.
According to media reports, the incident occurred at Shimoga’s Shivapanayakvarta Chowk, where BJP supporters had blocked the road for their celebration. When the woman insisted on passing through, the BJP supporters, intoxicated by the fervor of Pran Pratishtha, began chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans. In response, the woman loudly chanted Allahu Akbar, leading to a brief period of tension. Authorities intervened, placing the woman in a police jeep and taking her to a safe location.
KE Kantesh, the son of former Deputy Chief Minister S Eshwarappa, known for his controversial remarks against Muslims in Karnataka, has called for the arrest of the woman in the aftermath of the incident.
This incident echoes a previous example of communal tension in Karnataka, where in February 2022, a student named Muskan Khan faced chants of Jai Shri Ram when she wore a hijab to her college. In response, Muskan defiantly shouted Allahu Akbar, highlighting the ongoing challenges related to communal mind in the region.
