Mob enters madrasa in Karnataka’s Bidar, performs pooja; Owaisi hits out at BJP

Nine people have been booked for allegedly entering an ancient madrasa in Karnataka’s Bidar and raising “Jai Shri Ram”, “Hindu Dharam Jai” slogans and performing puja.

The incident happened on Wednesday (October 5) when a mob part of a Dussehra procession broke into Mahmud Gawan madrasa, which is a heritage site. Following this, several Muslim organisations staged a protest.

Also read: Congress writes to minorities commission, seeks probe into Assam madrasa demolition

Bidar Police said on Friday (October 7) that they had booked nine people for allegedly trespassing into the madrasa.

In a tweet, MP and the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi accused the ruling BJP of “promoting such activity” to “demean” Muslims. Also, he called the people who broke into the madrasa “extremists”.

“Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims,” Owaisi posted with a video.

Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims pic.twitter.com/WDw1Gd1b93

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 6, 2022

In the 2.12-minute video shared by Owaisi, people can be seen shouting slogans. It was alleged that the group broke the lock and entered the madrasa.

Also read: Word madrasa should cease to exist if children were to become doctors, engineers: Assam CM

The Mahmud Gawan madrasa is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It was built in the 1460s.