Bengaluru, Oct. 22 -- The alleged denial of access to three Dalit ministers during the Nandidhwaja puja at Mysuru Dasara has triggered a political confrontation in Karnataka, with the Janata Dal (Secular) accusing the Congress government of hypocrisy on social justice and demanding that the ministers assert their dignity or resign.

The controversy escalated on Thursday after police personnel allegedly prevented ministers Shivaraj Tangadgi, PM Narendra Swamy and KS Basavanthappa from entering the venue at the Mysuru Palace premises to participate in the ceremonial worship on Wednesday, during the Jamboo Savari celebrations.

The JD(S), an NDA ally led in Karnataka by union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, seized on the incident to question the Cong...