We’ll consult legal experts on withdrawing hijab ban in schools, colleges: Madhu Bangarappa

BENGALURU: After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in Mysuru on Friday that the Congress government will withdraw the order banning hijab in schools and colleges, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the government will seek legal opinion before taking any decision.

On Thursday evening, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had given instructions to officials to withdraw the order. In March 2022, the High Court of Karnataka had upheld the Karnataka government’s right to impose rules on wearing of uniform and the ban on wearing of hijab inside classrooms. The order was challenged before the Supreme Court.

Speaking to Public TV, the Primary Education Minister said, “The CM has made a statement on withdrawing the order banning hijab. We will see what the legal position is and we will hold discussions with legal experts. As there may be confusion in schools and colleges, we will discuss the issue and issue appropriate directives. We will work within the framework of the law. I will have a discussion with the CM and then take things forward. It has nothing to do with any kind of politics.”

Reacting to the issue, former CM and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said, “Nobody demanded Siddaramaiah to withdraw this hijab decision. All the communities are together. To attend classes, the same uniform is required, this has been decided by the court also. Just to please the Muslim community, Siddaramaiah has taken this hasty decision. I condemn this and he must withdraw the decision immediately. This will not affect the Lok Saha elections. In the coming Lok Sabha elections, people will teach them a lesson”.

#WATCH | Delhi: On hijab row, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra says, "Yesterday's statement of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah regarding the hijab issue is really unfortunate. It is very unfortunate that Siddaramaiah has said that he will allow hijab in educational institutions.… pic.twitter.com/VkiIgZzkuQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2023

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra, who is in New Delhi, said, “It is very unfortunate that Siddaramaiah has said that he will allow hijab in educational institutions. The chief minister could have at least spared educational institutions from dirty politics. No children from the minority or Muslim community have demanded hijab, but the CM claims that he will allow hijab in the schools and education institutions. It clearly shows the intent of the CM. It is just appeasement politics, and it is purely divide-and-rule practice followed by the Congress. We strongly condemn the move”.

“It is unfortunate. This government is using children for politics. This is just brazenness. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra will rush to Uttar Pradesh when there is a crime against women, but will not go to West Bengal where Hindus are being slaughtered. They didn’t go to Rajasthan where there were a lot of crimes against women, especially Dalits. The Congress is working for only one community and they will be taught a lesson in the 2024 Lok Sabha election”, said BJP MLA Basanagounda Patil Yatnal.

Former BJP national general secretary C T Ravi explained, “Hijab was not banned, only uniforms were made compulsory. Now, it remains to be seen if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will add hijab as part of the uniform or whether he will relax the norms on uniforms. The purpose of a uniform is to create a sense of equality among children”.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh, reacting to the issue, said, “This is not merely lifting of the ban on hijab, but the establishment of Sharia law in the state. If Rahul Gandhi, Congress and INDI Alliance form a government in the country, then Islamic law will be implemented”.

However, RLD national president Jayant Chaudhary said, “This is a correct decision from the constitutional point of view. People have been given the freedom. If there are such restrictions on food and dress, then it will create an Emergency-like situation”.