But what went wrong is what seems as a very heated argument for the lack of posters to advertise a “Free Online Bible Course” in Jayamahal Layout or the lack of posters to advertise a “Free Online Bible Course” in which you can follow on YouTube. A local resident made a video complaining about not putting ads in government buildings.
There were numerous posters hung on electric poles and transformers on 1st Main Road in Jayamahal Extension. Each poster had a QR code for the program and contact numbers for enrollments. Even though it was aimed at promoting religious learning, the practice of advertising on public property has led to some controversy.
The resident objected strongly in the viral video that religion should take place in private and private places, in temples or churches and mosques so that people have their own space and not be spread to all of society. According to him, having religious posters and putting them up in public places is inappropriate and would put more pressure on the community, which would lead to a break-up of relationships. The city’s aesthetics is definitely less attractive, and Bengaluru is quite chaotic and not tidy.
It was shared with the name “Kannadiga Devaraj” on X (now Twitter) and started a debate on social media. Some of the other users supported the resident’s call for stricter regulation of public spaces, saying posters of any religion do not belong on public property. Yet others saw this as freedom of expression (even for so far as they're not insulting).
These incidents demonstrate a big issue in many cities: the misuse of public property advertising and communications. Posters printed on poles, walls, and transformers frequently cause visual pollution whether religious, political, or commercial when they are not. Free speech is important but only for freedom of expression to be maintained and not for commercial advertisements to be made as well as with a social order of peace and harmony when you have public space on which to take place.
Problems with Bible course posters in the Jayamahal Layout illustrate how sensitive issues of religion are when people are in public spaces. Even the organizers’ aim was to raise awareness, but that has brought into question the appropriateness of such ideas as to where public property should be used and what communities must be able to get to: what freedom is really like to do in public space and how much responsibility to have on each other? And the government hasn’t issued an official statement yet.
