Bengaluru: The previous Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka which had imposed a ban on wearing hijab by students is all set to be lifted and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday stated that he has instructed officials concerned to lift the ban on hijab.
The decision on lifting the ban on hijab came from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after he was questioned by the audience on the ban on hijab at the inauguration of a new police station at Kavalande in Nanjangud taluk in Mysuru district and in reply the Chief Minister said “We will take it back” and stated “No hijab.” The announcement from the Chief Minister was cheered by the audience with a round of applause.
The BJP government in February, 2022 had issued an order banning wearing hijab by students stating that uniform should be worn compulsorily and no exception can be given to wearing hijab. The High Court of Karnataka had upheld the ban on wearing hijab. Owing to the ban on wearing hijab, several parents refrained their children from attending classes and later on candidates did not attend pre-university examinations.
The reason cited by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to lift ban on hijab was that “clothing is individual choice,” and said “Wearing dress and having food is an individual choice. Why should I object to it?” Continuing, he said, “I wear dhoti and you wear trousers. What’s wrong with it?”
Criticising the BJP government’s decision over imposition of ban on wearing hijab, the Chief Minister said “Politics should not be done to garner votes” and stated that his government “would not indulge in politics to fetch votes.” The Chief Minister asserted “Our government would help the poor irrespective of one's religion. There is no compromise on it.”
