Posted by New Delhi: The murder of a Karnataka Congress corporator’s daughter inside a Hubballi college campus has sparked a heated political debate in the state, with the BJP and the Congress government clashing over allegations of ‘love jihad’.
Neha, a 23-year-old MCA student, was brutally killed by Fayaz on the premises of BVB College in Hubballi. CCTV footage captured Fayaz stabbing Neha several times before fleeing. Police confirmed Neha succumbed to multiple stab wounds inflicted by Fayaz, who was subsequently arrested.
What victim’s father said
The victim’s father, Niranjan Hiremath, revealed that the accused, Fayaz, was known to the family, and they had previously advised him against pursuing Neha. “He was a former student who proposed to my daughter, but she declined his advances,” Hiremath recounted. “She rejected him, citing differences in caste and her disinterest in a relationship. In a fit of rage, he attacked my daughter.”
Hiremath added, “The motive behind the murder stems from the victim rejecting the accused’s romantic advances… Prior to the incident, we conversed with the accused, explaining our Hindu-Muslim differences and our unwillingness to sanction their union.”
War of words between BJP and Congress
The BJP criticised the Congress government under Siddaramaiah, accusing it of prioritising appeasement over maintaining law and order. “This is a tragic incident and it appears to involve elements of ‘love jihad’,” said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. “The lack of law and order under the Congress regime is glaring.”
In response, the Karnataka government dismissed these claims. State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that Neha and Fayaz had been in a relationship that soured over time. “Perhaps he attacked her due to her intention to marry someone else, but the specifics are yet to be determined,” Parameshwara stated. “Given the mutual nature of their relationship, it doesn’t seem to fit the ‘love jihad’ narrative.”
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP of fearmongering. “The BJP’s attempt to sow panic and instill a sense of lawlessness in Karnataka is baseless,” Shivakumar said. “We have a robust law enforcement system, and justice will prevail for all.”