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Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday clarified that the Karnataka government has not withdrawn the hijab ban imposed on the state by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
CM Siddaramaiah said that the Congress government is considering removing the ban on hijab from educational institutions in the state. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that a decision on this will be taken after discussion at the government level.
Addressing reporters, CM Siddaramaiah said, “We have not done that (removing the hijab ban) yet. Someone had asked me a question (on removing the hijab ban). I replied that the government is considering revoking it. It was asked whether this would be done in this.” CM said that this will be done after discussion at the government level regarding the academic year.
The clarification comes a day after CM Siddaramaiah said there is no ban on wearing religious headscarves in educational institutions and said the choice of attire and food is personal.
On Friday, CM Siddaramaiah had said, “We will withdraw that decision, now there is no ban on hijab.” Women can go out wearing hijab. I have asked the officials to withdraw the order (order of the previous government). Wearing clothes and eating is our choice, why should I object? Wear whatever you want, eat whatever you want, why do I care? We should not do politics to get votes, we do not do that.
The Congress government has faced sharp criticism from the opposition BJP over the announcement on hijab.
The saffron party said the government’s move raised concerns about the “secular nature” of educational venues. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra accused Siddaramaiah of ‘destroying’ the educational environment.
Accusing the Congress of indulging in ‘appeasement politics’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Vijayendra claimed, “Even after so many years of independence, the literacy and employment rate among minorities is still 50 per cent. The Congress has never Did not try to raise the status of minorities.” ,
“The Congress believes in the policy of divide and rule which was adopted by the British rulers. This is tantamount to carrying forward the British legacy,” he said. Earlier, in a post on ‘X’, Vijayendra had said that the state government has ‘divided’ young minds on religious lines.
“CM Siddaramaiah’s decision to withdraw the hijab ban in educational institutions raises concerns about the secular nature of our educational spaces,” the Shikaripura MLA said.
“By allowing religious attire in educational institutions the Siddaramaiah government is dividing young minds on religious lines, potentially hindering an inclusive learning environment.” The state BJP chief stressed that it is important to prioritize education over divisive practices and foster an environment where students can focus on academics without the influence of religious practices.
In 2022, the previous BJP government led by then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had banned wearing of hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka.
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Published: 23 Dec 2023, 05:00 PM IST
