“Girls have the right to choose their clothes…”: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s big announcement on hijab ban

Addressing a rally in Mysore, CM Siddaramaiah said, “Now there is no ban on hijab. Women can wear hijab and go anywhere. I have directed to withdraw the ban order. It is your choice how you dress and what you eat. Why should I? Why are you stopping?”

The previous BJP-led government in Karnataka banned the wearing of hijab in schools and colleges. There was a huge uproar about this. The matter also reached the Karnataka High Court. Now after the Congress government came to the state, this ban is being lifted.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “People in the state are free to wear and eat what they want. Wear what you want. Eat what you want. I will eat what I want. I wear dhoti, pants and shirt. What’s wrong with that. “Is there?”

The dispute started from Udupi
The hijab controversy in Karnataka started in early January last year with a government college in Udupi where Muslim girls were barred from wearing the hijab. The school management said it was against the uniform code. After this the controversy spread to other cities as well.

Muslim girls opposed it. Youths belonging to Hindu organizations also started protesting this by wearing saffron shawls. The protest turned into a violent clash at a college, where the police had to use tear gas to control the situation.

The previous government had imposed the ban in June 2022
In June 2022, the BJP government led by then state CM B Bomai banned the head covering in educational institutions in the state.There was a lot of controversy regarding this decision of the government. Many students approached the High Court against this ban. The Karnataka High Court upheld the ban on hijab, saying that wearing hijab is not a compulsory religious practice of Islam.

The matter went to the Supreme Court
After this the matter went to the Supreme Court. The court gave a split verdict in this matter. The judge ruled that the state was authorized to enforce school uniforms. Another judge called the hijab a matter of choice.

After the Congress government came to power in June this year, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge told NDTV that if any law of the BJP government was unfavorable, the new state government would repeal it. Priyank Khadge said this while referring to the Hijab ban and anti-homicide bill. He said that such laws hinder the economic development of Karnataka. They take the state backwards. These laws and decisions will be reviewed. It will be canceled if necessary.