‘We will discuss it,’ says CM Siddaramaiah on decision to lift hijab ban in Karnataka

MYSURU: Barely a day after he said the hijab ban in schools and colleges will be revoked, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday that the issue will be discussed.

Responding to question on whether hijab will be allowed from this academic year itself, Siddaramaiah said, “We have not done it yet. Someone asked a question and I only said the government is thinking of withdrawing the order. We will discuss this at the government level”.

Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that his government will withdraw the ban order on the hijab imposed by BJP and said that no politics should be done on what people prefer to wear and eat. “We are withdrawing the order. There’s no hijab rule now. No hijab. You can wear hijab and go. I have directed withdrawal of the order. Dressing and eating are personal choices, why should I stop you?” he had said.

He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is ‘bogus’. “PM Narendra Modi’s sab ka saath-sab ka vikas is bogus. BJP is doing the work of dividing people and dividing society on the basis of clothes, dress, and caste. I have told you to withdraw the hijab ban,” CM Siddaramaiah posted on X.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also defended his government’s decision to withdraw the hijab ban imposed by the previous BJP government and said that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is working as per the law and framework of the Constitution.

“Whatever the Karnataka government is doing is as per the law and framework of the Constitution. Any policy that is detrimental to the development of Karnataka will be reviewed and removed if necessary,” Priyank Kharge said.

Meanwhile, targetting the Congress government, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa termed the step as a “hasty decision to appease the Muslim community”.

The previous BJP government in the state had imposed a Hijab ban on students in educational institutions. The matter reached the Karnataka High Court, which also upheld the ban imposed by the then BJP government. In this regard, the Supreme Court had delivered a split verdict leading to the Karnataka High Court being upheld.

On Friday, while addressing a public rally in Mysuru, the Karnataka Chief Minister said that this decision will be taken back and women can go out wearing Hijab.

“We will take back that decision, there is no Hijab ban now. Women can go out wearing hijab. I have told the officials to take back the order (previous govt order). Dressing and eating food is our choice, why should I object? Wear whatever dress you want, eat whatever you want, why should I care?

We should not do politics to get votes, we don’t do that,” Karnataka CM said.

Reacting to the announcement made by the Karnataka Chief Minister, Karnataka’s BJP unit in a social media post said that Siddaramaiah is sowing the poison of religion in the state.

“A uniform policy has been implemented in schools and colleges to ensure that children are equal. This has also been upheld by the Supreme Court. However, the Chief Minister is creating a difference in the minds of the school students regarding the issue of uniforms. Siddaramaiah is going to amend the constitution itself for a vote bank to appease PFI goons and minorities. In the coming days, the people themselves will teach this a lesson,” Karnataka BJP posted on X.

The Hijab row in the state erupted in January 2022 when the Government PU College in Udupi allegedly barred six girls wearing the hijab from entering. Following this, the girls protested outside the college over being denied entry.

Earlier last month, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) restricted all forms of head cover in the exam hall during recruitment exams for various boards and corporations to avoid malpractice.

Though the dress code does not explicitly ban hijab, it is implied by the new guidelines. The order said that this is part of the effort to stop exam malpractices using Bluetooth devices. (ANI)