Congress Under Fire After Leader Alleges Love Jihad in Karnataka Following Daughter’s Murder

The Congress leader’s daughter, Neha Hiremath, was stabbed seven times by a former college classmate, Fayaz Khondunaik, in Hubbali. Police suspect that he murdered her because she rejected his advances.

Fayaz claimed during interrogation that they had been in a relationship, but she had been avoiding him of late. The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the ruling Congress party attempting to portray it as a personal matter, while the opposition BJP has highlighted it as a sign of deteriorating law and order in the state.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi even suggested a “love jihad” angle to the case. However, Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that there is no evidence of this angle as of now.

The victim’s father, Niranjan Hiremath, a Congress corporator, alleged that the accused had planned to “trap his daughter” and that she had been threatened by the accused for some time. He called the crime a ‘Love Jihad’ case, adding to the controversy.

In response, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi criticized the Congress government’s handling of the situation, accusing the party of corruption, criminality, and communal violence. The Congress countered by asserting that the state has the best law and order and accused the BJP of trying to impose the Governor’s rule in Karnataka.

The incident has incited protests, with right-wing activists demonstrating outside the police station and calling for severe punishment for the accused. Similar protests have been reported in other places as well.

The case remains under investigation, with the political dimensions adding complexity to the situation and intensifying the debates over law and order, religious angles, and political allegiances.