Hijab row: Siddaramaiah says denying entry to college violation of students’ fundamental rights

 

As the row over Hijab refuses to die down, Congress leader and former state chief minister on Friday extended his support to the protesting Muslim students while slamming the BJP government for its inaction on the issue.

Speaking to reporters here Siddaramaiah said that it’s been a month since the students have been protesting but the state government has allowed the issue to escalate rather than resolving it.

Terming the government college principal’s act of turning students away from the gate for wearing Hijab to class as inhuman, Siddaramaiah said denying entry to students was a violation of their fundamental rights.

“Wearing of saffron shawls to college is an attempt to politicise the issue,” he alleged adding that they will await the court’s verdict in this matter.

The Karnataka high court will hear the petition filed by a student for the right to wear a hijab inside the classroom on Feb 8.

Former Minister Zameer Ahmed said,” Wearing Hijab is a fundamental right. The government is keeping mum on the issue which is not right. Students are now wearing saffron shawls on the premises. BJP is playing dirty politics here. The government itself had announced that there will be no dress code after PUC.”

Congress leader UT Khader also opined that hijab or the headscarf is “a religious essential” for Muslim women. “The government should take a stand in the matter. The controversy may spread to other regions as well,” he said.