A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after a video showing a group of men offering namaz at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru went viral on social media. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, November 10, 2025, has prompted the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit to sharply question the accountability of the Congress-led Karnataka government.
The Viral Incident and Location
The now-viral video was shot near Gate 3 of the airport's Terminal 2. It depicts a group of men engaged in prayer just outside the terminal gate, with a team of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel stationed nearby. When approached for a statement, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operator of the airport, declined to comment on the issue.
BJP's Strong Reaction and Security Concerns
Following the widespread circulation of the video, BJP Karnataka unit spokesperson Vijay Prasad launched a direct attack on the state government. Tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Priyank Kharge on the social media platform X, Prasad demanded answers.
He posed a series of pointed questions, asking, "How is this even allowed inside the T2 Terminal of Bengaluru International Airport? Hon'ble Chief Minister @siddaramaiah and Minister @PriyankKharge do you approve of this? Did these individuals obtain prior permission to offer Namaz in a high-security airport zone?"
Prasad further escalated the criticism by drawing a comparison with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), questioning a perceived double standard. "Why is it that the government objects when the RSS conducts Patha Sanchalana after obtaining due permission from the concerned authorities, but turns a blind eye to such activities in a restricted public area? Does this not pose a serious security concern in such a sensitive zone?" he asked.
Airport Facilities and Police Stance
In a significant detail that adds another layer to the controversy, a source from KIA confirmed that a dedicated prayer room exists within the terminal building. Despite this available facility, the group chose to pray outside the airport gate, an area considered a high-security zone.
The jurisdictional aspect of the incident remains unclear. An officer from the KIA Police Station stated that the airport does not fall under their jurisdiction and confirmed that they had not received any formal complaints regarding the viral namaz video.
The event has ignited a fresh debate on religious practices in public and high-security spaces, with the BJP firmly positioning it as a matter of security and administrative bias, putting the Karnataka government on the defensive.
