Request students to return to classes: CM Bommai after hijab verdict

BC Nagesh, Karnataka’s minister of primary and secondary education said that the (Muslim) girls were “misguided”.

The Karnataka government appealed for maintaining the law and order situation in the state after the high court’s verdict on the Hijab row on Tuesday.

The Karnataka high court delivered its verdict on the contentious issue, stating that the hijab was not part of essential religious practice, ending months of speculation over what has now turned into a flashpoint of minority rights. (PTI)

“The honourable three-bench High Court has given its verdict that the uniform order by the government is upheld and they have mentioned hijab is not part of essential religious practice of religion. Therefore, I request everybody in the society, parents, teachers, students and those who are concerned about education to whatever the High Court has said we have to see that it is implemented and peace and order are maintained and I request all of them to maintain peace and order for the future, education of our children which is very important,” chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters soon after the verdict in Bengaluru.

He added that the high court had “settled’ the matter now and requested students to return to educational institutes.

The Karnataka high court delivered its verdict on the contentious issue, stating that the hijab was not part of essential religious practice, ending months of speculation over what has now turned into a flashpoint of minority rights.

BC Nagesh, Karnataka’s minister of primary and secondary education said that the (Muslim) girls were “misguided”.

“In the coming days, those aspects under the Karnataka Education Act which gave rise to confusion will be resolved based on this judgement,” Nagesh said.

He added that the school uniform is something that brings in a sense of nationalism mentality and it has been prescribed for this very reason.

“We will win over the hearts of the girls who were misguided and will request them to come into the mainstream. They should come back to school and resume their education. Because the people of Karnataka have never gone against the court’s judgement. These girls were misguided. In the coming days, they will get better,” he added.

The controversy began when at least eight Muslim students protested outside the Government Girls Pre-University College in Udupi, about 400 kms from Bengaluru, in January against the orders of the College Development Council (CDC) banning the hijab in classes.

The decision of the CDC, whose chairman is Raghupati Bhat, the BJP MLA from Udupi, was resisted by at least eight students, who protested outside the college building for being forced to choose between their rights to education and freedom to practice their religion.

Former chief minister and leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah refused to comment on the order and instead reiterated that wearing the hijab does not harm anyone.

Surprised at the verdict, Congress MP DK Suresh held the government responsible for protecting the girl students.

“Islamic practice is accepted by the constitution; don’t know how Court has given this verdict. We’ll wait and see. Education is also very important. Government has to give protection to all girl students. Petitions have been rejected but customs continue,” DK Suresh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

State Congress president DK Shivakumar expressed concern about the education and law and order situation in Karnataka and appealed to the state government to show mature leadership.

“My greatest concern in the hijab controversy is education and law and order. The Karnataka high court has given a judgment but the responsibility for education, law and order and communal harmony is still with the government of Karnataka,” he tweeted.

“I appeal to the government of Karnataka to show mature leadership and ensure that law and order are maintained in and around schools and colleges, education of students is not hampered, regardless of religion and gender and there is communal harmony.”

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament in New Delhi, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda said, “It is a unanimous judgement (and) there is no difference of opinion, that too chief justice is heading the bench. And now things have not sorted out. There is again provocation going on against this and that in the state.”

“Now what state government is going to take steps to bring this down, to cool and calm and solve the problem by mutual discussions with political parties or go (for) an appeal to the Supreme Court. I don’t know. Anyhow the matter is not solved. It is further aggravated,” added the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) supremo.