Bengaluru CET Row: BJP Demands Action Over Sacred Thread Incident
Bengaluru CET Row: BJP Demands Action Over Sacred Thread Incident
Tensions rise as three students were allegedly made to remove their janivara before a CET exam in Bengaluru. BJP calls for swift action as police detain staff.
In Bengaluru, a dispute over the Common Entrance Test (CET) erupted after three students were reportedly asked to remove their janivara, the sacred thread, before entering the exam hall. The incident drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which said it insulted Hindu sentiments and demanded immediate action against those responsible.
R. Ashok, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, personally took a student and the student’s parents to the office of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to press for a case to be filed. He said police had initially shown reluctance to register an FIR, but a telephonic call with the Director General and Inspector General of Police, followed by a meeting with the City Police Commissioner, led to the registration of a case.
Later, Bengaluru police detained three staff members from a private CET examination centre for allegedly forcing students to remove their janivara before the exam hall entry. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the handling of religious sentiments in a secular education framework and has intensified political discourse ahead of upcoming state matters.
The CET, a common entrance test used for admissions into professional courses, remains at the center of a controversy that pits exam administration and student rights against perceptions of religious sensitivity in public spaces. Observers say the incident could prompt scrutiny of center procedures and the enforcement of guidelines at exam venues.
As authorities pursue accountability, the episode highlights the delicate balance between religious respect and standardized testing in a diverse city like Bengaluru, where education policy and politics frequently intersect.
