RLD backs Karnataka govt's Hijab move; BJP calls it ‘divide and rule’

RLD president Jayant Chaudhary backed Karnataka CM's decision to lift hijab ban, while the state BJP unit condemned the move, calling it “divide and rule”.

Updated on: Dec 23, 2023, 10:17:13 IST

By Yamini C S

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The hijab ban controversy has erupted anew once again in the southern state of Karnataka after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that his government will be revoking the ban imposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2022.

RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary said there will be an Emergency-like situation if restrictions are placed on food and dress. (Subhankar HT File)

Reactions poured in from several quarters across the country, with the Karnataka unit of the BJP opposing the move. Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra, former CM Yediyurappa's son, called the move “unfortunate”, saying that the Congress party was playing “divide and rule” and doing “appeasement politics”.

ALSO READ | ‘Karnataka govt dividing young minds along religious lines’: State's BJP chief on decision to withdraw hijab ban

"Yesterday's statement of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah regarding the hijab issue is really unfortunate. It is very unfortunate that Siddaramaiah has said that he will allow hijab in educational institutions. The chief minister could have at least spared education institutions from the dirty politics. No children from the minority or Muslim community have demanded hijab, but the CM claims that he will allow hijab in the schools and education institutions, it clearly shows the intent of the CM. It is just appeasement politics, and it is purely divide and rule practice followed by the congress party. We strongly condemn the move," he told reporters.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) national president Jayant Chaudhary also spoke on the matter in Delhi, backing the move. "This is a correct decision from the constitutional point of view. People have been given the freedom. If there are such restrictions on food and dress, then it will create an Emergency-like situation," he said.

ALSO READ | Will lift hijab ban in Karnataka, says CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa denied allegations that the decision has anything to do with politics, and said, "I will have a discussion with the CM and then take things forward. It has nothing to do with any kind of politics. This issue should not be politicised. The State education policy is inclusive of culture, studies and other things."

(With ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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