Controversy: Don’t Wear Hijab Or Saffron Shawl To School, Says Minister

Bengaluru: Amid a controversy over Muslim girls wearing hijab (headscarf) to educational institutions, Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday said that religion should be kept away from education.

He advised students not to wear either hijabs or saffron shawls to schools.

The minister said that no one should go to school to practise religion, and directed police personnel to keep a watch on religious organizations which are trying to undermine India’s unity.

On Thursday, Muslim girl students were denied entry to a pre-university college in Udupi district for wearing hijab, PTI reported. The principal asked the girls to take off their hijab as it was not allowed inside classrooms.

Around 100 Hindu boys had earlier turned up at the school wearing saffron shawls to protest against girls donning hijabs inside classrooms.

A fortnight ago, hijab-wearing girls were stopped from entering another college in Udupi district, leading to protests.

Halady Srinivas Shetty, the local MLA, tried to explain to Muslim girls and their parents, but they insisted on wearing hijabs.

State Fisheries minister S Angara stated the state government order disallowing hijabs inside classrooms will stay till a committee studying the matter submits its report.

“Schools are the place where children belonging to all religions should learn together and imbibe a feeling that we are not different, and all are children of Bharat Mata,” the Home minister said, trying to pacify all sections.