BENGALURU, MAY 6

Bengaluru Jamia Masjid Chief Imam and Khateeb Maulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi condemned the incident in Kalaburagi wherein a Brahmin student was allegedly asked to remove his sacred thread (janivara) before being allowed to appear for the NEET competitive examination.

Calling the act "immoral and unconstitutional", Maulana Rashadi said the action violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which assures all citizens the freedom to profess and practise their religion.

"The janivara is not just a symbol – it is a sacred part of a Brahmin’s faith. Forcing a person to remove it is an affront to our democratic ethos," he said.

Rashadi mentioned earlier incidents where Muslim girls were denied entry into exam halls wearing hijabs on the grounds that it represents a disturbing pattern of religious discrimination.

"Today it is a Brahmin student, yesterday it was a Muslim girl. If we do not stand united, the rights of all will be at risk," he warned.

Appealing for immediate corrective action, he urged examination authorities to ensure that students of all communities are treated with dignity.