Karnataka: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that his government will withdraw the order banning hijab in schools and colleges in the state. He said that the choice of clothes is one’s own prerogative and that no politics should be done on what people wear and eat.
The hijab ban order was imposed by the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai in 2022, stating that “clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn”. The order was challenged in the Supreme Court, which delivered a split verdict on October 13, 2023.
The Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice to refer the matter to a larger bench, and it is pending before the top court. However, Siddaramaiah said that he has directed officials to withdraw the ban order as soon as possible. He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas” as “bogus” and accused the BJP of dividing people and society based on clothes, dress, and caste.
Siddaramaiah’s announcement has been welcomed by some pro-Kannada groups and activists, who have been campaigning for the recognition and preservation of Kannada as one of the official languages of Karnataka. They have also been demanding that Kannada be taught as a compulsory subject in schools and colleges.
However, the announcement has also faced opposition from some shopkeepers and traders, who have argued that it would be impractical and unfair to impose such a restriction on them. They have also claimed that it would affect their business as many customers from outside Karnataka may not be able to read or understand Kannada.
Some experts have also questioned the effectiveness and feasibility of the announcement, saying that it may not have much impact on increasing the usage or awareness of Kannada among people. They have suggested that instead of focusing on language barriers, there should be more emphasis on improving education quality, infrastructure development, and social integration.
The announcement has also sparked a fresh political controversy in the state, as the BJP has made it clear that it will oppose any move to revoke the hijab ban. The BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of playing politics with sensitive issues like religion and culture. The BJP has also claimed that its government had taken steps to promote interfaith harmony and respect for diversity in Karnataka.
The hijab issue is one of the many contentious matters between Karnataka’s ruling Congress party and its main opposition BJP party. The two parties have been locked in a bitter rivalry since 2018, when they fought each other in both state assembly elections. The next assembly elections are due in 2024.
