Karnataka Waqf Minister Defends Urdu Festival Plan Amid BJP, Pro-Kannada Opposition

A proposal to hold an Urdu festival on the steps of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru has drawn criticism from BJP and pro-Kannada activists in Karnataka. The state minister for Waqf & Hajj defended the event, saying opponents lacked exposure to such cultural programmes and did not understand the language or its cultural significance.

The minister acknowledged the opposition but framed it as stemming from unfamiliarity rather than principled objection. The festival plan has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates over language and cultural representation in the state.