KSR restroom locked after right-wing activits protest

Nischith N | NT

Bengaluru: Some slogans were raised on Monday as a Hindu rightwing group protested against ‘namaz’ being offered at a room in the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station (Bengaluru central). The issues flared up as a prayer room, located inside the porters’ restroom at KSR Station, was being used for several years and the rightwing activists were giving it a communal touch. The controversy caught South Western Railway officials and porters at KSR by surprise as the prayer hall has existed for several years without any issue. “We know about the prayers offered at that room because it is has been so for many years, also we all agreed to give that space for prayer. I am Hindu and also we all are like brothers and we don’t have an issue regarding this. But Monday’s protest was really shocking”, said a porter at the station.

Interestingly, the KSR Railway Station has at least two temples, including one on Platform 7 and another near the locomotive shed, as well as a small room where Christians offer prayers. However, members of Goa-based Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), whose name was linked with the accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, chose to enter a section of the room, built for resting of porters and other staffers, which is used by the minority community to offer prayers. Officials said they were surprised with the development as the prayers have been offered at the place for more than 20 years. Similarly, ‘pooja’ has been offered at the temples for decades.

A senior railway official said they have received the letter from the organisation but the claims made by them are unsubstantiated. “This has been communilised for no reason. The temple on platform number 7 and prayers by the minority community on platform number 5 both existed in the same premises for many days. But the protest by the HJS is creating communal unrest”, a senior Railway police said. Railways immediately removed all properties at the room and the wall has been repainted.