Koppal : Congress minister Basavaraj Rayareddy has sparked a political and social controversy after describing Islam as the “best religion” and expressing his desire to undertake the Haj pilgrimage. His remarks, made at a mass marriage programme organised by the Muslim community in Kuknoor, have triggered debate over the role of religion in public and political discourse.
Addressing the gathering, Rayareddy said he had a desire to visit Mecca for Haj but could not do so because a person has to be a Muslim to undertake the pilgrimage. He also said he did not frequently visit temples and mutts.
“I have a desire to go on the Haj pilgrimage at least once. But to go for Haj, one has to convert. Islam is a great religion,” Rayareddy was quoted as saying.
The minister went further in his praise of Islam, saying that the religion was based on humanity and that misconceptions were being spread about it.
“Islam is a great religion based on humanity. There are misconceptions about Islam in society. The religion teaches people how they should live in society,” he said.
Rayareddy also said he was willing to study the Quran and argued that its teachings should not be viewed as being restricted only to Muslims.
“The Quran is not limited only to Muslims. Anyone can read it. I am also ready to study the Quran,” he said.
The remarks have drawn attention because of the minister’s position in the Congress government and come at a time when religious issues continue to remain politically sensitive in Karnataka.
Rayareddy, however, sought to broaden his message beyond Islam and appealed to people not to become religious extremists or casteists. He said merely visiting a mosque or temple did not automatically make a person righteous and stressed the need to follow the positive principles found across religions.
“People should not become fanatics or casteists. Merely going to a mosque and saying ‘Allahu Akbar’, or going to a temple, does not make everything right. We should adopt the good principles of all religions in our lives,” he said.
The minister’s comments have already begun generating political interest, with opponents likely to question whether an elected representative should describe one religion as superior to others in a public programme.
Rayareddy’s remarks also come against the backdrop of an ongoing political contest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP over issues involving religion, minority welfare and alleged appeasement politics. The BJP has frequently accused the Congress of adopting policies favouring minorities, while the Congress has maintained that its welfare programmes are aimed at social equality and inclusive development.
At the same programme, minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah also spoke about the need to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim community. He said that despite its sizeable population, the community continued to face developmental challenges.
“Developing the Muslim community is our priority,” Yathindra said, adding that the community had received increased financial support after Siddaramaiah came to power.
Yathindra also appealed to people to maintain harmony among different religious communities. He said there was only one creator and people should treat one another with love and respect.
“People should not create fights between religions and reap political benefits. Religion should not be mixed with politics,” he said.
He also accused certain political parties of bringing religion into politics and indirectly appealed to the gathering not to support parties that, according to him, use religion for political purposes.
Yathindra further praised Rayareddy, saying the minister had contributed significantly to the development of the Muslim community and had knowledge about Islam. He also highlighted Rayareddy’s political association with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s government and his long-standing relationship with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Rayareddy’s comments, particularly his description of Islam as superior and his expression of interest in studying the Quran and undertaking Haj, are expected to remain a talking point in Karnataka’s political circles. While the minister attempted to frame his remarks around religious harmony and humanity, the explicit comparison of religions has opened another political flashpoint for the Congress government.
The controversy is likely to intensify if opposition parties interpret the statement as an endorsement of one religion over others. Congress leaders, meanwhile, may seek to emphasise the minister’s subsequent appeal for people to respect the positive values of all faiths.
For Rayareddy, who has previously attracted political attention through his outspoken views on state politics and Congress leadership, the latest remarks have once again placed him at the centre of public debate — this time over religion rather than electoral politics.
