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Journalism of Courage
Throughout 2021, the one Karnataka BJP face that was always in the headlines was B C Nagesh, the state School Education Minister. From the hijab controversy to the allegation of ‘saffronising’ school textbooks, Nagesh was at the centre of every communally-tinged controversy in the state, and the focal point of the criticism of the Opposition. On Saturday, Nagesh was in the news again, but for a very different reason — his lost from the Tiptur Assembly seat in Tumkur district to Congress rival K Shadakshari by over 17,000 votes.
Believed to be a close aide of BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh, the 64-year-old politician hitched on to the saffron bandwagon early in life, joining the ABVP. He also served in the RSS and as the BJP secretary of Tumkur district. He was elected from Tiptur for the first time in 2008. Defeated in 2013, he was re-elected in 2018 by a margin of over 25,000 votes.
During the hijab controversy, Nagesh faced attacks for ‘depriving’ Muslim girls of education by banning the hijab from classrooms. While the matter is still in court, Nagesh has always advocated a hijab ban in educational institutions. He was also opposed by student activists for ordering inspection of madrasas, based on a report of the poor quality of pedagogy they offered.
Nagesh and his administration were also criticised for “dropping” lessons on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and social reformer Narayana Guru, having them replaced with speeches of RSS founder K H Hedgewar and other revolutionaries associated with the right-wing ideology. After a backlash, the lessons on Bhagat Singh and Narayana Guru were restored, but Hedgewar’s speeches remained. Rohith Chakrathirtha, a right-wing ideologue, was appointed controversially as the head of the textbook revision committee.
Nagesh was also in the news when the association of private schools accused the education department of corruption. The association wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.
The BJP leader later drew flak for his comments that seemingly downplayed the need for shoes, socks and sweaters for government school students. He stated that “…students don’t come to school seeking socks and shoes, but to seek education instead”, which attracted sharp attacks from KPCC president D K Shivakumar.
A Congress leader told The Indian Express that there was huge anti-incumbency against Nagesh in Tiptur because of his poor performance as a minister. “People did not like the fact that he distorted school textbooks and attacked writers like Barguru Ramachandrappa. Even the hijab controversy has worked against him to some extent,” he said, adding that the caste arithmetic also worked for the Congress in the region.
