'Moral policing', says Karnataka Congress on woman forcing BMTC conductor to remove skull cap

The Karnataka Congress has dubbed the incident of a woman passenger objecting to a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus conductor wearing a skull cap while on duty a case of moral policing.

A video of the incident has gone viral triggering a debate.

ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಸಚಿವರೇ #BMTC ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಕಂಡಕ್ಟರ್‌ ನ ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಹಕ್ಕಾದ ಟೋಪಿ ಧರಿಸಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಲು ಈ ಮಹಿಳೆಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ನೀಡಿದವರು ಯಾರು? ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ಬದ್ಧ ಹಕ್ಕನ್ನು ಕಸಿಯುವ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅಡ್ಡಿ ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲದೇ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ವೈರಲ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಮಾನ ಹಾನಿ ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಮಹಿಳೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ದೂರು ದಾಖಲಿಸಿ pic.twitter.com/F4PNR6LpP9

— afsarkodlipet (@afsarkodlipet) July 12, 2023

Lavanya Ballal Jain, the national spokesperson for Congress said, "All women must take advantage of the Shakti scheme (free bus travel for women). Please stop harassing the employees busy at work. It's unnecessary and it's moral policing. We have brought this issue to the notice of our Transportation Minister Ramalinga Reddy."

The video clip shows the woman authoritatively asking whether the bus conductor, a Muslim, is authorised to wear the skull cap. She goes on to grill him while making the video. The conductor calmly answers all her questions. He maintains that he has been wearing the skull cap for the past 10 years and no one has ever asked him or questioned him about it.

The woman further questions him whether the rule permitted him to wear the skull cap? The conductor finally says that he would bring the matter to the notice of the Managing Director of the BMTC.

The woman is heard preaching to him that he should keep the religious practices at home and should not bring them to the public space.

The video has triggered a debate and it has taken a communal turn. The people have supported both the woman and the conductor. However, the conductor's composure and calm replies have got appreciation.