Janivara row: Anger erupts across K'taka

A storm of protest has engulfed Karnataka following reports that students were allegedly forced to remove their Janivara (sacred thread) before entering CET examination halls in Bidar and Shivamogga, triggering a fierce backlash from religious groups, political leaders, and civil society alike.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru, Hubballi, Bidar, Shivamogga, Davanagere

Union minister Pralhad Joshi led the charge, denouncing the act as a "direct assault on religious belief". He slammed the Congress government in the state for its tepid response, calling the mere suspension of a home guard involved as "grossly inadequate".

"It's not just Brahmins who wear the sacred thread. This is about faith. The government must issue immediate and clear guidelines," Joshi declared, linking the incident to what he called a pattern of Congress-led "distractions" to deflect from administrative failures.