MYSURU: Nearly two years after the then BJP government issued an order barring students from deviating from the dress code prescribed by managements of schools and colleges, and effectively proscribed wearing of hijab on campuses, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Friday said he has directed authorities to reverse that directive.
Making this announcement while addressing a gathering at Muslim-dominated Kavalande in Mysuru, the CM said choice of dress and food is personal and no one should interfere with it. His statement comes less than six months before the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
When the audience specifically asked him on restrictions on hijab in educational institutions, Siddaramaiah said, “There are no restrictions on wearing hijab. Students can go to school wearing hijab. I have asked (concerned authorities) to rescind the order and it will be done.”
“Let people eat or wear dress of their choice. I am wearing a dhoti and he is wearing trousers. What’s wrong in it?” the CM said.
In January 2022, a few right-wing organisations had taken objection to students wearing hijab to schools and colleges and got their activists to wear saffron shawls as a counter move. The then BJP government issued a circular on February 5, 2022, mandating the dress code prescribed by managements of schools and colleges should be adhered to. The circular did not officially ban hijab as such. But drawing strength from the circular, management of Government PU College for Girls, Udupi, barred students from wearing hijab on campuses.
Charging BJP of playing vote bank politics, the CM said Congress will not follow suit.
Making this announcement while addressing a gathering at Muslim-dominated Kavalande in Mysuru, the CM said choice of dress and food is personal and no one should interfere with it. His statement comes less than six months before the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
When the audience specifically asked him on restrictions on hijab in educational institutions, Siddaramaiah said, “There are no restrictions on wearing hijab. Students can go to school wearing hijab. I have asked (concerned authorities) to rescind the order and it will be done.”
“Let people eat or wear dress of their choice. I am wearing a dhoti and he is wearing trousers. What’s wrong in it?” the CM said.
In January 2022, a few right-wing organisations had taken objection to students wearing hijab to schools and colleges and got their activists to wear saffron shawls as a counter move. The then BJP government issued a circular on February 5, 2022, mandating the dress code prescribed by managements of schools and colleges should be adhered to. The circular did not officially ban hijab as such. But drawing strength from the circular, management of Government PU College for Girls, Udupi, barred students from wearing hijab on campuses.
Charging BJP of playing vote bank politics, the CM said Congress will not follow suit.