Opposition raises ban on hijab in Karnataka in Indian Parliament

The Opposition in India has raised the issue of ban on headscarf (hijab) in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha, lower house of Indian parliament, with many MPs opting to move adjournment motions.

The Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and some other members raised the issue which is hogging the international attention these days.

IUML Lok Sabha MPs had given adjournment notice to demand a discussion on the Udupi Hijab row in Karnataka while Congress urged education minister to intervene to ensure the constitutional rights of the students are upheld and matter is resolved. T.N. Prathapan, Congress MP said, “I request the Education Minister to intervene in this matter to ensure the constitutional rights of the students are upheld and matter is resolved.” Earlier, IUML Lok Sabha MPs had given adjournment notice to demand discussion on the Udupi Hijab row in Karnataka which took place recently.

Meanwhile, lashing out at the government, Congress leader in the legislative council B.K. Hariprasad in Karnatka state said, “BJP is fishing in dangerous waters by meddling in Hijab-Saffron row in Udupi district. It shows their sinister plans to create issues out of nothing for petty political gains. BJP is posing risk to students’ education which is already affected by the pandemic.”

The management of Kundapur Government Pre University College also sent hijab wearing and saffron shawls cladding students to separate rooms inside the premises of the college. The hijab row has now spread across the state, including in Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Vijayapura.

It has affected seven colleges in Udupi alone, while also spread to Bommai’s native district of Haveri. The row took a new turn with students of IDSG College in Chikkamaglur district, who came in blue shawls in support of wearing the hijab by Muslim students. They condemned the communalisation of education.

The Muslim students who came wearing the headscarf have said that they were not bothered about the state government’s order and were awaiting the directive from the High Court of Karnataka on the matter.