Hubballi: A major controversy has erupted in Karnataka after verses from the Quran were recited during a government event organised by the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. The incident, which took place at Vishal Nagar in Hubballi during a foundation stone-laying ceremony for various development works, has drawn widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about the government’s commitment to secularism and neutrality in public functions.
The event, led by Labour Minister Santosh Lad, was officially organized by the Municipal Corporation, the Public Works Department, and HESCOM, with an estimated project value of Rs 10 crore. Shockingly, the program began with the recitation of verses from the Quran, prompting several to allege that government protocol was blatantly violated.
The Minister Santosh Lad reportedly paused his speech midway when the Azaan (Islamic call to prayer) was heard. But critics say reciting Quran is an inappropriate display of religious preference during an official event meant to serve citizens of all faiths.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad has written to the Chief Secretary, demanding immediate disciplinary action against the officials responsible for allowing a religious ritual in a government function. In his letter, Bellad accused the administration of misusing public platforms for religious appeasement and converting what should have been a neutral government program into a politically loaded Congress event.
“The stage of an official government program is not meant for the promotion of any religion,” Bellad stated. “By allowing Quran recitation at a civic event, the Congress government has disrespected the constitutional principle of secularism. Karnataka’s official programs represent all citizens, not any one faith.”
Officials including Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rudresh Ghali and Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhuvanesh Patil were present on the stage when the Quran recitation occurred, and both are now under scrutiny for their inaction. Bellad’s letter has demanded accountability from both officers, claiming their silence amounts to endorsement of a clear breach of government conduct.
The @INCKarnataka government in Karnataka has turned governance into a stage for vote-bank appeasement.
In Hubballi, a government function—the foundation stone laying of civic and public works—began with Quran recitation, openly violating the sanctity and neutrality of state… pic.twitter.com/n2rLZJfdTC
— Arvind Bellad (@BelladArvind) October 7, 2025
The same event also featured a free sewing machine distribution ceremony for beneficiaries, but opposition leaders alleged that the entire event was designed to resemble a Congress party rally, with party banners, political slogans, and images of top Congress leaders prominently displayed. Critics argue that the program blurred the line between government service delivery and political campaigning.
Taking to social media, Arvind Bellad posted a video of the event, condemning what he called “the Congress government’s blatant vote-bank appeasement.” In a sharply worded post, he wrote: “The Congress government in Karnataka has turned governance into a platform for appeasement politics. The recitation of the Quran at a government event in Hubballi violates the sanctity and neutrality of public functions. This is not secularism it is selective secularism that divides society.”
Bellad further stated that such acts not only undermine constitutional values but also erode public trust in governance. “When government platforms meant for all citizens are communalized to please a section of the electorate, it exposes the Congress’s priorities. They are not concerned with governance or development but with vote-bank politics at any cost,” he said.
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