A controversy has erupted in K R Nagar after images of a mosque and a red cross were painted on the wall of the Arakeshwara Temple in Adator village, Mysuru district, Karnataka. Following protests by local residents, the taluk administration removed the paintings, and a case was registered against the temple caretaker and the artist who painted the symbols.
Mosque and cross drawn on the walls of Arakeshwara Temple. 📍K.R Nagar, Mysore https://t.co/2GIuEpm8Vs
— Kreately.in (@KreatelyMedia) October 18, 2026
Tehsildar visits temple, paintings removed
The mosque was painted green, while the cross was painted red on the temple’s compound wall. Local Hindu youths objected to the paintings, saying that such symbols should not be placed on the wall of a sacred Hindu site. They demanded action against those responsible, arguing that the paintings hurt the religious sentiments of devotees.
The Arakeshwara Temple is an important religious centre in the region and has recently undergone renovation.
After receiving information about the incident, Tehsildar Surendra Murthy visited the temple and inspected the site. Following the inspection, the administration ordered the removal of the paintings.
A complaint was filed against Aarti, the temple’s in-charge of temple administration, and Vinay, the artist who painted the symbols. A case has been registered at the K R Nagar police station.
Police are investigating the matter and have taken precautionary steps to prevent any untoward incidents on the temple premises.
BJP president Vijayendra criticises Congress government
Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra condemned the incident, saying that painting symbols associated with other religions within a Hindu temple’s premises affected its sanctity and went against Hindu traditions.
ಕೆ.ಆರ್.ನಗರದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಅರ್ಕೇಶ್ವರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೂ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಇತರ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿ, ಸನಾತನ ಧರ್ಮದ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಕೇಂದ್ರದ ಪವಿತ್ರತೆಗೆ ಧಕ್ಕೆ ತರಲು ಯತ್ನಿಸಿರುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಖಂಡನೀಯ. ಇದು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮತೆಯ ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲದ, ಸಂವೇದನಾರಹಿತ ಉದ್ಧಟತನ. ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಾಮರಸ್ಯದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೂ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳ ಆಚಾರ-ವಿಚಾರಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಪದ್ಧತಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಸವಾರಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ನಡೆ ಮತ್ತು ಈ ಕುರಿತಂತೆ ಈ ತುಘಲಕ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮೌನ ಭಕ್ತಾದಿಗಳ ಭಾವನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಎಸಗಿದ ದ್ರೋಹವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇವರ ಢೋಂಗಿ ಮುಖವಾಡವನ್ನು ಕಳಚಿ ಅಸಲೀ ಮುಖವನ್ನು ಬಯಲು ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಇತರ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನಾ ಮಂದಿರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಿಸದ ಇಂತಹ ಕುಚೋದ್ಯಗಳು ಕೇವಲ ಹಿಂದೂ ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ಹೇರುವುದು ಯಾಕೆ? ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳೇ, ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ಶಾಂತಿ ಪ್ರಿಯತೆಯನ್ನು ದೌರ್ಬಲ್ಯ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡ ವಿಕೃತ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಕುಚೇದ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ, ಪ್ರಚೋದನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ತಕ್ಕ ಶಾಸ್ತಿ ಮಾಡದೆ ಹೋದರೆ ಜನರೇ ಆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾದೀತು. ಸಾಮರಸ್ಯ ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಧರ್ಮಗಳಿಗೂ ಸಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಅನ್ವಯವಾಗಬೇಕಾದ ತತ್ವ. ಈ @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಾಗಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಸನಾತನ ಪರಂಪರೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಭಕ್ತರ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳನ್ನು ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಕೃತ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ತಹಸೀಲ್ದಾರ್ ಅವರು ನಂತರ ಆ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ಸಾಲದು. ಇಂತಹ ಪ್ರಚೋದನಾಕಾರಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿರುವವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಬಂಧಿಸಬೇಕು, ಕಾನೂನು ರೀತ್ಯಾ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಜನರ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಟವಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಇಂತಹ ಉದ್ಧಟತನ ಅಕ್ಷಮ್ಯ!
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) October 18, 2026
In a post on X, Vijayendra criticised the Congress government for being insensitive towards Hindu religious practices. He also criticised officials for interfering with temple traditions in the name of religious harmony.
He said removing the paintings was not enough and demanded an immediate investigation, the arrest of those responsible and strict legal action. He also questioned Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the matter.
Vijayendra said religious harmony should apply equally to all faiths. He claimed that the Congress government had repeatedly ignored Sanatana traditions and the religious rights of devotees. He warned that failure to act against such incidents could lead people to take matters into their own hands.
R Ashoka questions permission for paintings
Karnataka Assembly Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also criticised the Congress government and questioned who had authorised the paintings on the temple wall.
Shame on CM @DKShivakumar and Home Minister @PriyankKharge! Why are mosque and cross symbols being painted within the sacred precincts of the historic Arkeshwara Temple? Who passed this government order? Who authorised this? Would the @INCKarnataka Govt ever permit Trishuls or Om symbols to be painted inside a mosque or a church? Hindu temples deserve respect and protection. Any decision aletring Hindu sacred spaces demands transparency, sensitivity and accountability. No government should take Hindu sentiments for granted. The Hindus of Karnataka deserves answers. Those responsible must be held accountable. #AntiHinduCongress @BJP4Karnataka @BJP4India @NitinNabin @AmitShah
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 18, 2026
Ashoka questioned Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge, asking whether the government would allow symbols such as Trishuls or Om to be painted inside a mosque or a church.
He said Hindu temples deserved respect and protection, adding that decisions affecting religious places must be handled with care and transparency.
Ashoka demanded accountability from the government and said the people of Karnataka deserved answers about the incident. He also called for action against those responsible for the paintings.
