Members of several Brahmin organisations condemned the alleged incident in which a few students were told to remove their ‘sacred thread’ at the CET examination centres in Shivamogga and Bidar, in Mysuru on April 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SRIRAM MA
Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa condemned the alleged incident in Shivamogga and Bidar, in Karnataka, in which two students appearing for the CET were told to remove their ‘sacred thread’ at examination centres.
Thought the government of Karnataka has ordered an inquiry and has pointed out that it was done by the security personnel at the examination centres, the BJP has hit the streets holding the government responsible.
Mr. Srivatsa, who took part in the protest convened by Mysuru Brahmin Yuva Vedike at Agrahara Circle, said that the incident has hurt the sentiments of the Brahmin community. The protesters marched on foot via Vani Vilas Road, and submitted a complaint to the Krishnaraja police.
The MLA said that the ‘sacred thread’ indicated the initiation of the boys at a young age into spiritual learning through ‘brahmopadesha’ and ‘upanayana’. “It is a cherished tradition, and every community in the country has the right to follow their beliefs and cultural practices,” he said.
‘’But the harassment meted out to the two boys by forcing them to remove the ‘sacred thread’ amounts to humiliating and insulting an entire community and its customs,” he said.
Nearly 300 members of the forum took part in the demonstration and raised slogans condemning the incident.
Mr. Srivatsa sought the dismissal of the persons responsible for the incident. He threatened to intensify the agitation if the government fails to act against the officials responsible.
D.T. Prakash of the Akhila Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha, Mysuru unit, K.R. Satyanarayana of Hoysala Karnataka Sangha, M.V. Ramprasad, former councillor of the Mysuru City Corporation, were among those who took part in the protest.
Published – April 19, 2025 05:07 pm IST
