Bangalore: Muslim organisations have opened a front against Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh. Nagesh's resignation is being sought over permission to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in educational institutions. The Waqf Board has expressed displeasure over the decision of Ganeshotsav and demanded separate rooms for offering namaz in educational institutions and permission to celebrate Muslim festivals. Athavulla Punjalkatte, president of the state unit of the Campus Front of India (CFI), has demanded the resignation of the education minister. At the same time, the student wing CFI of radical organization PFI has termed the minister's decision as unilateral and biased. CFI has tweeted, "The Education Minister should focus on quality education and infrastructure development and not on communal policies and statements.''

In fact, at a press conference in Bengaluru on Thursday (August 18, 2022), Nagesh said that 'Schools have full freedom to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi like every year. It is a non-religious event, which unites society. Allowing schools to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, the education minister said such events were held in schools even before the country's independence.' At the same time, he refused to allow other religious activities in schools.  

He said that Ganeshotsav started as a weapon of the freedom movement in this country. Earlier Ganapati Puja was performed inside the houses. Ganpati festival was started in schools, hostels and public places on the call of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. This type of tradition has been going on for many generations and there is no question of stopping it. We have not given any new permission for religious practices. Even after the clarification of the Education Minister, the anger of Muslim organizations is not stopping. They are looking at it by linking it to the High Court's decision in the hijab case. The High Court had banned the use of all religious symbols, including hijab and saffron shawls, inside classrooms.

Karnataka Waqf Board chief Shafi Saadi has raised several demands opposing this move of the government. They have demanded permission to celebrate Muslim festivals and to give a separate room to the students to offer Namaz every day. He says that awareness programs should be organized on the basis of religion for children. To strengthen the foundation of moral education of children, they should be given religious education. At the same time, Shri Ram Sena Chief Pramod Muthalik has condemned the demands of the Waqf Board and asked the government to reject it. Mutalik has said 'Today they are asking for permission for Namaz in schools, tomorrow they will ask for a holiday on Friday. The government should not allow this Islamization of schools.'

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