Karnataka Secondary and Higher Education minister BC Nagesh on Wednesday justified the anti-Muslim posters put up in Shivamogga. The posters inspired the prohibition of Muslim merchants from establishing outlets at an annual native competition within the metropolis.

It has been reported {that a} marketing campaign was additionally organised on social media platforms towards permitting Muslim shopkeepers to arrange outlets.

Nagesh, whereas talking to the media, sided with the Hindutva teams and stated that each motion has an equal and reverse response.

“Everything has an equal and opposite reaction. Those people tried to oppose the law of the land and this is a reaction to it. Someone had a communal agenda and two months ago nobody had thought that the high court would pass an order against it and that Muslims would call for a statewide bandh over the court’s ban on the issue,” he stated.

“Some people around Karnataka also supported the same (the state-wide bandh). And if there is a reaction to it please don’t politicize it,” he added.

The organizing committee of the competition, Kote Marikamba Jatra, was pressured to allot the tender to a Hindutva group because the leaders of BJP, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had demanded that no Muslim be allowed to arrange outlets through the competition.

The Kote Marikamba Jatra is held as soon as each two years. Lakhs of individuals from neighbouring cities and districts go to the competition. The competition was final held in February 2020. The residents say that Muslims and Christians additionally provide ‘Harake’, which is an providing made to the deity for fulfilling their needs.