Karnataka Congress Muslim Leaders Resign Amid Rising Communal Tensions

Protests Erupt Over Government's Handling of Violence

On Thursday, multiple Muslim leaders affiliated with the Karnataka Congress stepped down from their positions to express their dissatisfaction with the state government's perceived inability to manage communal unrest in the Dakshina Kannada district.

Among those who resigned were MS Mohammed, the General Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, and KK Shahul Hameed, the head of the Dakshina Kannada District Minority Wing.

This wave of resignations followed the recent murder of Abdul Rahim in Bantwal, near Mangaluru, which also left his friend injured.

During an urgent meeting held in Bolara, Mangaluru, party leaders declared their resignations. Initially, they considered waiting for the government's response, but pressure from party workers led to their immediate decision.

Hameed informed attendees that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had advised against hasty actions, indicating that the issue had been escalated to the party's higher authorities. Nevertheless, the workers insisted on resignations.

Consequently, several leaders, including district and booth-level representatives, opted to leave their posts.

Hameed criticized the Congress government for failing to protect the Muslim community from the alleged harassment by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh Parivar, despite the community's support during challenging times.

He expressed the community's frustration, stating, “Even our mothers, wives, and children are questioning our allegiance to Congress when they cannot ensure our safety.”

The region has witnessed three murders in recent weeks, escalating tensions.

On April 27, Ashraf, a 36-year-old from Kerala, was lynched in Mangaluru after reportedly shouting pro-Pakistan slogans during a cricket match.

On May 11, Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty was killed, leading to the arrest of eleven individuals. Shetty had a history of legal issues and was implicated in the murder of Mohammed Fazil in July 2022.

In the latest incident, Rahim was attacked while unloading sand at a customer's residence, with his co-worker Kalandar Shafi sustaining serious injuries.

Authorities announced the arrest of three suspects—Deepak Poojary, Prithviraj, and Chiranthan—aged between 19 and 21, in connection with Rahim's murder, although the motive remains unclear.