As backlash mounts, Karnataka Congress may revisit action against Muslim leaders

Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is leading efforts to contain the fallout and pacify sections of the Muslim community, which is reportedly upset over the disciplinary action.

Speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he had already taken up the matter with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. “After taking permission from the high command, we will ensure that he (Jabbar) returns to the party,” he said.

He added that the objective of his meeting with Shivakumar was to “protect the minorities.”

Earlier, Jarkiholi said there was still time to issue a notice to the MLC. “The state unit will have to approach the high command to revoke his suspension,” he said.

Jarkiholi acknowledged dissatisfaction within the community, noting that Muslims in the state were questioning why action had been taken against the two MLCs while similar instances involving leaders from other communities were allegedly overlooked.

The internal tensions stem from the candidate selection process for Davanagere South, which exposed divisions within Congress leaders from the Muslim community. Soon after the elections, MLC Saleem Ahmed and MLA Rizwan Arshad had accused some community leaders of anti-party activity, following which action was taken against Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed. The move triggered strong reactions from minority groups and a section of progressive organisations.

On Monday, representatives of leading Muslim organisations in the state wrote to the Congress leadership condemning the “discriminatory approach of the Congress party towards a Muslim community that has voted overwhelmingly in its favour.”

Referring to the controversy over the candidate at Davanagere South, the letter said that the manner in which ticket distribution was handled and the party’s conduct post-election had come as a “deep shock”.

“Senior Muslim leaders who had worked for the party for decades were suddenly removed without any valid reason and without even giving them an opportunity to explain. This conduct of the Congress has added to the pain of the community. At a time when the party should have addressed the disappointment of not giving the ticket, it instead acted in a highly insensitive manner, leading to strong anger,” the letter said.