Namaz Offered At Bengaluru Airport; Political Row Erupts

Bengaluru: A major political row has erupted after the circulation of a video showing a group of people offering namaz at the Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

The video, which apparently showed pilgrims on their way to Haj and those who had gone to see them off at the airport offering namaz has also sparked an online debate on whether such activities should be allowed at public places and high-security zones.

Reports suggest that the group offered mass prayers inside the terminal even as airport staff looked on silently. The video, shared widely on social media, prompted sharp reactions, with some users questioning how religious gatherings were permitted within the airport premises. Authorities of the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) have not issued any official statement.

The BJP has launched a direct attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, demanding answers from chief minister Siddaramaiah and IT minister Priyank Kharge, who happens to be the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and has been very vocal against RSS activity in the state.

“How is this even allowed inside the T2 terminal of Bengaluru International Airport,” the BJP questioned, wanting to know if the individuals had obtained prior permission to conduct prayers in a restricted public area.

BJP leader and spokesperson Vijay Prasad amplified the issue by posting the video on X, tagging Siddaramaiah and Kharge.

“Did these individuals obtain prior permission to offer namaz in a high-security airport zone? Why is it that the government objects when the RSS conducts Patha Sanchalana after obtaining due permission, but turns a blind eye to such activities in a restricted area,” he posted.

Prasad also alleged that such actions raise serious security concerns and reflect double standards by the ruling Congress government.

While BIAL is a public-private consortium that is not directly under the control of the government, the BJP has accused the state of appeasement politics, claiming it overlooks certain activities while imposing strict restrictions on others. The party also questioned the silence of airport authorities, insisting that the rules must be applied uniformly across all communities.