A fresh controversy has erupted on social media after a leader from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) objected to an image of Bhgawan Hanuman displayed on a KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus. Arif Arva, the General Secretary of SDPI in Chikmagalur, took to Twitter on July 31 to express his disapproval, tagging not just KSRTC but also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and the state DGP in his post. His tweet has since garnered over 4.84 lakh views and sparked widespread debate.
Arif Arva’s tweet read: “Attn KSRTC. I saw this bus at Chikmagalur bus stand. A religious photo is placed at the rear of the bus. Is it right to put such religious photos on government buses? Take action against the driver and conductor of the bus.” The tweet referred to a bus with the number plate KA10F0455, which had an image of Bhagwan Hanuman on its rear window. KSRTC responded to the tweet, stating, “Thank you for your post, we will forward it to the concerned depot for further verification.”
The tweet has incited strong reactions, with many criticising Arif Arva for raising the issue. Commenters have defended the presence of the Hanuman image, emphasising Karnataka’s cultural ties to the deity. “Karnataka is the land of Anjaneya. How can Anjaneya not have a place here?” asked one user.
Another user, Naveen, remarked sarcastically, “Ariffu has tagged CM, DGP, and DCM for a sticker, but who should we tag for the work you’re community doing daily ?” Other comments echoed similar sentiments. Veena Jain advised, “It’s all very normal. Fight over serious issues. Don’t create unnecessary controversies.”
One commenter pointed out the irony: “If you are so intolerant about a small Hanuman sticker on the bus, how are we supposed to respond to the loud Azaan every day, 24/7 throughout the year?” The backlash also included harsh criticisms, with one user saying, “If you or your community have a problem with Hindu stickers on government properties, ask your mosque and madrasa to pay taxes, or close them.”
A Christian user, William D’Souza, added, “As a Christian, I don’t see any problem here. Don’t try to bring your SDPI and PFI agendas into Karnataka. Congress here doesn’t entertain such trivial issues.” The controversy unfolds as people debate the appropriateness of religious symbols on public vehicles, reflecting the broader tensions over religious expression in public spaces.
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