A group of students, wearing saffron scarves and raising slogans, marched to the college.
Bangalore:
A spiraling controversy over the hijab or headscarf worn by Muslim women in schools and colleges in Karnataka, including a march of Hindu students wearing saffron scarves and chanting slogans, on Saturday urged the state government to “promote equality, integrity and public order”. Inspired to ban “spoilers” clothing. ,
“Invoking 133(2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, which states that a uniform style of clothing should compulsorily be worn. The private school administration may choose the uniform of its choice,” the government order said. To add, students have to follow the dress code chosen by the authorities.
“In the event of non-selection of the uniform by the Administrative Committee, one should not wear clothes which violate equality, integrity and public law and order,” the order said.
It said, “The Education Department has observed that in some educational institutions boys and girls have started behaving according to their religion, which hurts equality and unity.”
Karnataka has seen a growing row over religious dress since last month with right-wing groups in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru objecting to Muslim girls wearing the hijab.
The controversy quickly spread to other parts of the state, with groups of Hindu students clad in saffron scarves appearing in class.
On Saturday, videos from Kundapur in Udupi district showed boys and girls wearing a scarf on his college uniform and shouting “”Long live Rama (Praise Lord Rama)”.
With the issue now before the High Court, Chief Minister Bommai held a meeting with the law and education departments on Friday – which seems to have brought the new order.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday will hear petitions by five girls studying in a government pre-university college in Udupi, questioning the hijab restrictions.
The face-off has also taken a political turn as Congress leaders backed those wearing hijab, while the ruling BJP said it would not allow “Talibanisation” of educational institutions.
Former Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP and the RSS of trying to spread communal tension across the state and urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to immediately arrest those instigating people.
He said, “The Constitution has given the right to practice any religion which means anyone can dress according to their religion. Preventing students wearing hijab from entering the school is a violation of fundamental rights.”
BJP state president and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the government would not allow hijab in educational institutions and would take strict steps to ensure that things are done as per school norms.
“There is BJP government in this state, there is no place for hijab or any other related incidents. Schools are temples of Maa Saraswati (goddess of education), there everyone should follow the rules and regulations. It is right to bring religion there. No, students need education, if one cannot follow the rules then they can choose their path elsewhere,” he said.
Hitting out at both the BJP and the Congress, former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy asked the government to allow hijab and ban them in places where it was introduced recently.
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