The recent murder of Neha Hiremath, a Congress councillor’s daughter and a first-year MCA student at BVB College in Hubballi, has sparked a political controversy in poll-bound Karnataka. Neha was stabbed to death on her college campus, allegedly for rejecting a man’s marriage proposal. The accused, Fayaz Khondunaik, was arrested and is reported to have confessed to the crime. While the ruling Congress party claims a “personal angle” to the case, the Opposition BJP alleges that the murder was motivated by “love jihad.”
The tragic incident has fueled intense political debate, with BJP accusing the Congress-led government of not taking the crime seriously. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra has suggested that the crime might be a case of love jihad. He criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for downplaying the incident, accusing him of trying to protect the accused. “The Congress government does not care about anything. Instead of coming to the rescue of the family, Siddaramaiah says the murder took place due to a personal vendetta,” Vijayendra said.
Siddaramaiah has dismissed these allegations, stating that the law and order situation in Karnataka is stable and that the murder had personal reasons. His comments, however, have sparked criticism from various quarters, with many questioning the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victim’s family.
Niranjan Hiremath, Neha’s father, clarified that his daughter had rejected the accused’s marriage proposal, leading to the tragic incident. He mentioned that Fayaz had previously approached the family about the relationship, but they had refused due to religious differences. He expressed his grief over the loss of his daughter and condemned the violence.
The father of the accused, Baba Saheb Subani, a schoolteacher, has apologized to the victim’s family, stating that he was shocked and shattered by his son’s actions. He emphasized that Fayaz should be punished to deter others from committing similar crimes in the future. Despite the attempts to find common ground, the political undertones of the case continue to create waves in Karnataka’s political landscape.
The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater attention to gender-based violence and the importance of maintaining communal harmony. As the investigation continues, the political and social ramifications of this incident are likely to resonate across the state in the coming days.
