Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Clarifies Lifting Hijab Ban

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made it clear on Saturday that the administration was only considering lifting the state’s ban on the hijab and that a decision would be made following discussions within the government.

Addressing reporters, he said, “We haven’t done it (revoking Hijab ban) yet. Someone asked me a question (about lifting the Hijab ban). I replied that the government is considering revoking it. Asked whether it would be done this academic year, the CM said it would be done after discussing it at the government level.

The clarification follows his statement the day before that there is no policy prohibiting the wearing of the religious headscarf in educational institutions and that clothing and diet choices are private.

The Congress government has come under sharp criticism from the opposition BJP over the announcement on hijab. The saffron party stated that the government’s move raised concerns about the “secular nature” of educational spaces.

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Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP Karnataka chief B Y Vijayendra accused Siddaramaiah of ‘vitiating’ the academic atmosphere. Charging the Congress with indulging in ‘appeasement politics’ ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Vijayendra claimed, “Even after so many years of independence, the literacy and employment rate among minorities is still 50 percent. Congress never tried to elevate the condition of minorities.”

“Congress believes in the divide and rule policy which the British rulers had adopted. It amounts to carrying forward the British legacy,” he said. Earlier, in a post on ‘X’, Vijayendra said the state government ‘divided’ young minds along 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.

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“By allowing religious attire in educational institutions Siddaramaiah government is dividing young minds along religious lines, potentially hindering the inclusive learning environment.”  The BJP state chief stressed that it was crucial 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 banned the wearing of hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka.

Source: PTI