Congress Under Fire Over Love Jihad Allegations Following Daughter’s Murder in Karnataka by Neha Hiremath

The Congress leader’s daughter was fatally stabbed in Hubbali by a former college classmate, who police suspect killed her after she rejected his advances. The victim, Neha Hiremath, 23, was a first-year student of Master of Computer Applications at the college, and the suspect, Fayaz Khondunaik, 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 and the opposition BJP engaging in a heated exchange. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi of the BJP suggested a “love jihad” angle behind the crime, while the Congress corporator and victim’s father, Niranjan Hiremath, also referred to the incident as a “Love Jihad” case.

Home Minister G Parameshwara denied the existence of a “love jihad” angle at the moment. Amidst the political sparring, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi criticized the Congress government’s handling of law and order in the state, while the Congress defended the state’s law and order and accused the BJP of attempting to impose Governor’s rule in Karnataka.

The situation has led to protests by right-wing activists calling for severe punishment for the accused, with similar demonstrations reported in various locations. The victim’s father alleged that the accused had planned to harm his daughter, stating that the gang had conspired and threatened her for some time.

He questioned the personal nature of the crime and accused the ruling party of downplaying the incident. The incident has drawn attention to concerns about moral and ethical education and the assurance that wrongdoers will be brought to justice, with calls for the state machinery to address these issues effectively.