Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has revised the working hours of Urdu-medium junior primary and secondary schools during the month of Ramzan, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

According to a directive issued by the Directorate of Urdu and Other Minority Language Schools, these schools will function from 8 am to 12.45 pm during the fasting month. The revised schedule will be effective from the beginning of Ramzan, expected in mid-February, until March 20.

The BJP accused the Congress-led government of indulging in appeasement politics and questioned whether similar measures would be adopted during Hindu festivals.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that the decision reflected selective treatment and asked whether the government would extend comparable concessions for Hindu religious observances.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised the move, questioning whether similar relaxations would be granted during festivals such as Navratri, and accused the government of prioritising vote-bank politics.

The Congress rejected the allegations, with Home Minister G Parameshwara saying the opposition was objecting to measures aimed at ensuring equality and inclusion. He said such steps were intended to address long-standing social disadvantages faced by minority communities.

State minister Santosh Lad also dismissed the BJP’s criticism, accusing it of selectively targeting issues related to minorities while ignoring other governance concerns.

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The issue has triggered a fresh political exchange between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP ahead of the fasting month.