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Sacred thread row: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre offers seat to student who had to skip test

The student Suchivrath Kulkarni will be offered the seat in an engineering course at Bheemanna Khandre Institute of Technology, Bhalki, run by Shanti Vardhak Education Society of which Khandre is the Chairman.

Khandre announced a free seat to Suchivrath Kulkarni, the student who had to skip appearing for the Mathematics test of KCET. (Photo: X/ @eshwar_khandre)

Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre Sunday announced a seat for the student who had to skip the maths test of Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) for refusing to remove the sacred thread worn by male members of the Brahmin community.

The student Suchivrath Kulkarni will be offered the seat in an engineering course at Bheemanna Khandre Institute of Technology, Bhalki, run by Shanti Vardhak Education Society of which Khandre is the Chairman. Khandre and his Cabinet colleague Rahim Khan also visited Kulkarni’s residence Sunday morning.

The seat is being offered considering the student’s future, he said, adding that the government was exploring if Kulkarni could be given another opportunity to write the test.

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Last week, four students belonging to the Brahmin community were asked to remove the sacred thread before appearing for the KCET — three in Shivamogga and one in Bidar districts. In Shivamogga, two of them removed their holy threads but Kulkarni refused to appear for the test without the sacred thread.

Following the incident, Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar sought a detailed report from the DCs of Bidar and Shivamogga. Bidar DC recommended the removal of the principal and a staff member at the exam centre. In Shivamogga, two Home Guards were suspended for stopping the students.

Khandre said the government has initiated strict action for lapses.

The Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha issued a statement welcoming the minister’s decision.

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