Bangalore news highlights: Chief Justice of Karnataka Ritu Raj Awasthi constituted a three judge bench to hear the Hijab row from Thursday. The bench will comprise of the CJK, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Khazi Jaibunnisa Mohiuddin. The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday referred the hearing petitions challenging the hijab ban in certain colleges in the state to a larger bench. Meanwhile, Karnataka police has banned protests, agitations, demonstrations and gathering within the area of 200-meter radius from the gate of schools, PU colleges, degree colleges or other similar educational institutions in Bengaluru city for two weeks.
‘In view of the enormity of questions of importance which were debated, the court is of the considered opinion that the Chief Justice should decide if a larger bench can be constituted in the subject matter,’ Justice Dixit said. ‘The bench was also of the view that the interim prayers should also be placed before larger bench that may be constituted by Chief Justice Awasthi exercising his discretion,’ Justice Dixit noted in the order. The court, which heard petitions on the issue Tuesday, appealed to the students and people to maintain peace and tranquillity.
The state government Tuesday announced the closure of high schools and colleges for the next three days following tensions over the hijab row in different parts of the state. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday weighed in on the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, saying that it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear, be it a bikini, a ‘ghoonghat’, or a ‘hijab’.
Jammu and Kashmir’s National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said, “There is nothing wrong with it (wearing hijab). India is a free country and it is up to a girl to decide whether to wear it or not. It doesn’t harm anybody at all.”
On the Karnataka hijab row, J&K National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah says, “There is nothing wrong with it (wearing hijab). India is a free country and it is up to a girl to decide whether to wear it or not. It doesn’t harm anybody at all.” pic.twitter.com/BwK9WmZZPB
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday condemned the row over Muslim girls’ rights to wear the hijab in educational institutions and said attempts are being made to inject communal venom in the minds of children.
He was responding to a question on the hijab controversy in Karnataka and alleged social media campaign against Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on the way he offered his last respects to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.
“Our educational institutions should become a fertile ground for secularism. Instead, efforts are on to inject communal venom in the minds of the children. It is very dangerous,” the Chief Minister told reporters here.
Vijayan said the communal attack against Khan was a serious issue and urged people to take steps to protect secularism in the country. He said Khan paid respectful homage to late Mangeshkar and it was not done secretly. (PTI)
Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that the Constitution is our priority, ‘it’s our Bible, Bhagwad Gita and Quran’
‘Due to problem created by some individuals, India is burning. We should look at values of education & culture. We are all ‘One’, whichever community we belong to,’ Shivakumar added.
‘Our Constitution has given us an opportunity to wear whatever we want. Lots of changes are going on in Karnataka. On behalf of Karnataka Congress, I’m requesting everyone to maintain peace. Children’s future is important. I hope court will protect the Constitution,’ the state Congress President added.
Due to problem created by some individuals, India is burning. We should look at values of education & culture. We are all ‘One’, whichever community we belong to. Constitution is our priority, it’s our Bible, Bhagwad Gita&Quran: DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress Pres on hijab row pic.twitter.com/yfpm1Ff5Dd
Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Puducherry on Wednesday appealed to the Chief Minister N Rangasamy to break his silence in taking action against those intervening in religious customs of minorities and protect religious harmony in the Union Territory.
Addressing reporters through virtual mode, Narayanasamy said a girl student of a school in neighbouring Ariyankuppam was asked by a teacher to remove her hijab (scarf) while attending classes. “This instruction of the teacher to the student is highly condemnable and clearly indicates teacher`s intervention in the religious beliefs and customs of the minority community,” he said and appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure a harmonious environment by taking action against the teacher.
Narayanasamy said there were also reports of drills and yoga practices reminiscent of what the RSS was practicising being sought to be introduced in a school in Mannadipet constituency from where Home and Education Minister A Namassivayam (Bharatiya Janata Party) was elected to the territorial Assembly in 2021. (PTI)
Congress party on Wednesday released an open letter, issued by AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala addressing the students of Karnataka.
Commenting on the Hijab row going on in the state, ‘Let’s reject this agenda of hate and continue being friends, holding hands and walking together for a better future. In this land of Holy Shankaracharya, Ramanuja & Basavanna, the Hindu-Muslim-Christian-Buddhist-Parsis have coexisted for thousands of yers. Infact, we have come to respect each other’s culture and practices with pride.’
Amid the ongoing row over wearing hijab by some students in Karnataka, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said there is no objection to the headscarf, but the prevailing dress code in schools and colleges must be followed.
“If anyone wants to wear a hijab, we have no objection to it, but if they want to go to school and college (wearing hijab) then they will have to follow the dress code prevalent in those institutions,” Vij, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said. “And if one does not follow that (the dress code) then they can stay back home, no problem,” he added. (PTI)
Karnataka on Wednesday reported 5,339 fresh Covid-19 cases, 16,749 recoveries, and 48 deaths. Active cases currently stands at 60,956.
Karnataka reported 5,339 fresh COVID cases, 16,749 recoveries, and 48 deaths today
Active cases: 60,956 pic.twitter.com/fgTMMMHrS0
Chief Justice of Karnataka Ritu Raj Awasthi constitutes a three judge bench to hear the Hijab row from Thursday. The bench will comprise of the CJK, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Khazi Jaibunnisa Mohiuddin. (ENS)
Amid the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka, the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met Wednesday and took stock of the developments and decided not to take any decision as the matter is sub-judice in the Karnataka High Court.
After the cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said, “We have not taken any decision since the matter is in Karnataka High Court. The Karnataka government will take a decision based on the verdict of the Karnataka High Court on the Hijab row.” (Read more)
Amid the ‘hijab’ controversy in neighbouring Karnataka, hundreds of women on Wednesday held a demonstration in Mumbra township of Maharashtra’s Thane district in support of the Islamic headscarf for female Muslim students.
The protesters, who also included Hindu women, said ‘hijab’ was their ‘ornament’.
Protests for and against the ‘hijab’ intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, after the government there issued an order last week making uniforms prescribed by it or management of private institutions mandatory for its students at schools and pre-university colleges across the state.
Muslim as well as Hindu women in Mumbra, a Muslim-dominated township in Thane, held the protest at Retibunder area, carrying placards and banners in favour of hijab and condemning the BJP government in Karnataka for its decision. The protesters shouted slogans of ‘Allah-hu-Akbar’ and ‘Jai shri Ram’. The protest was led by social activist Ruta Awhad. (PTI)
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday claimed that the ongoing row over wearing of hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka is a conspiracy of Congress-led “tool kit gang” to push “separatist agenda” and create an atmosphere of “anarchy” across the country.
Slamming the Congress on the issue, the saffron group’s joint general secretary Surendra Jain alleged that Popular Front of India (PFI) is also involved in the conspiracy and appealed to the Karnataka government to expose the culprits and ensure they get “strictest punishment”.
“The row over hijab, which started from Udupi, Karnataka, has now taken a massive form in the country. It’s no more just a controversy. It has become ‘hijab jihad’. Fanatic elements going ahead with this separatist agenda. Tool-kit gang under the leadership of Congress has become active across the world to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country under a conspiracy,” Jain charged in a video message. (PTI)
Senior BJP leader and Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K S Eshwarappa on Wednesday claimed ‘Bhagwa dhwaj’ (saffron flag), may become the national flag some time in the future. He, however, said the tricolour is the national flag now, and it should be respected by everyone.
‘Hundreds of years ago the chariots of Sri Ramachandra and Maruthi had saffron flags on them. Was the tricolour flag there in our country then? Now it (tricolour) is fixed as our national flag, what respect it has to be given, should be given by every person who takes food in this country, there is no question about it,’ Eshwarappa said.
Responding to a question by reporters, whether the saffron flag can be hoisted on the red fort, he said, ‘not today, some day in the future.’ ‘Discussions are today taking place in the country on ‘Hindu vichara’ and ‘Hindutva’. People used to laugh at one point when we said Ram Mandir will be constructed in Ayodhya, aren’t we constructing it now? In the same way some time in the future, after 100 or 200 or 500 years Bhagwa dhwaj may become the national flag. I don’t know.’ Further stating that now tricolour has been constitutionally accepted as the national flag, the Minister said, it should be respected, and those who don’t respect it will be a traitor. (PTI)
The hijab issue which first surfaced at a pre-university in Udupi could have been resolved locally and the Sangh Parivar outfits are responsible for spreading it to other districts, Campus Front of India (CFI) Karnataka state president Atauallah Punjalkatte alleged on Wednesday.
Addressing reporters at Udupi, he claimed that the Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat had also encouraged the Sangh outfits even when the High Court was hearing the issue.
He said the government had not taken any action against those who hoisted saffron flag on the flag post meant for hoisting the national flag in Shivamogga. There was also no action against attempts to carry out attack Muslim students. Punjalkatte said the CFI will stand by the students to protect their constitutional rights and fight the case legally. (PTI)
Pakistan’s senior ministers waded into the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday saying that depriving Muslim girls of education is a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
The hijab controversy first erupted in January at a government PU College in Udupi, where six students who attended classes wearing headscarf in violation of the stipulated dress code were asked to leave the campus, has spread to different parts of the state with Hindu students too responding by turning up in saffron shawls. Such saffron-clad students are also being barred from entering classes.
“Depriving Muslim girls of an education is a grave violation of fundamental human rights. To deny anyone this fundamental right & terrorise them for wearing a hijab is absolutely oppressive. World must realise this is part of Indian state plan of ghettoisation of Muslims,” Qureshi tweeted.
Information and broadcasting Minister Fawad Hussain said what is going on in India is terrifying. “Indian Society is declining with super speed under unstable leadership. Wearing Hijab is a personal choice just as any other dress citizens must be given free choice,” he tweeted. (PTI)
What’s going on in #ModiEndia is terrifying, Indian Society is declining with super speed under unstable leadership. Wearing #Hujab is a personal choice just as any other dress citizens must be given free choice #AllahHuAkbar
Nearly 500 students of Kolkata’s Aliah University on Wednesday took out a rally in Park Circus area, with many women wearing hijab, amid a row over sporting the headscarf in Karnataka. The participants, carrying the national flag, travelled around Entally and Park Circus before returning to their campus.
“As citizens of India, we have the right to decide what we wear and the right to follow our own religious practises,” read placards in Bengali, English and Hindi held by the students, referring to the controversial developments in the southern state over wearing hijab.
“Down with right-wing forces that want us to go back to the medieval ages,” texts on some other posters read.
Incidents of stone-pelting and use of force by police were reported in Karnataka on Tuesday, as the hijab ban row escalated and protests by students spread to more colleges, prompting the state government to declare a three-day holiday for all educational institutions.
The hijab controversy first erupted in January at a government PU College in Udupi, where six students who attended classes wearing the headscarf in violation of the stipulated dress code were asked to leave the campus. The row has spread to different parts of the state with Hindu students responding by turning up in saffron shawls. (PTI)
Amid the hijab row in Karnataka, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said some people are giving ‘communal colour’ to a decision on dress code and discipline of institutions as part of their ‘conspiracy to defame India’s inclusive culture’.
With Pakistani ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chaudhary Fawad Hussain wading into the hijab row, criticising India over the issue, Naqvi also shot back saying Pakistan, which is a ‘jungle of crime and cruelty’ for minorities, is preaching India on tolerance and secularism.
The reality is that the socio-educational-religious rights of minorities are being trampled brazenly in Pakistan, Naqvi told reporters here.Equal rights, dignity and prosperity of the minorities, including Muslims, is a part of India’s commitment to tolerance, harmony and inclusivity, he asserted.
He pointed out that out of every 10 Muslims living in the world, one lives in India, there are more than three lakh active mosques in India and there is an equal number of other places of worship of the Muslim community.
Amid the ongoing Hijab row, Karnataka BJP MLA M P Renukacharya on Wednesday claimed that rape cases are increasing as some dresses worn by women ‘excite’ men, as he tried to make his case for girl students in colleges to either wear uniform or dress that fully cover their body.
Later realising that his remarks would stir controversy, the political secretary to the Chief Minister said that he would apologise to women, if his statement has hurt them. The Honnali MLA was reacting to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s tweet regarding the hijab row.
“Whether it is a bikini, a ghoonghat, a pair of jeans or a hijab, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear. This right is GUARANTEED by the Indian constitution. Stop harassing women,” she had tweeted.
“Priyanka Gandhi is a woman, a Congress leader…..we are not questioning the fundamental rights of women (on the hijab issue).
Kerala and Bombay High Courts have said that uniform is mandatory at schools and colleges, the government has also said the same. Using bikini word for girl student’s (dress) is ignoble,” Renukacharya said.
Whether it is a bikini, a ghoonghat, a pair of jeans or a hijab, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear.
This right is GUARANTEED by the Indian constitution. Stop harassing women. #ladkihoonladsaktihoon
Women staged a demonstration at the Ujale Shah Eidgah, Saidabad in Hyderabad to extend their support to the girls protesting to wear hijab in Karnataka.
#WATCH | Telangana: Women staged a demonstration at the Ujale Shah Eidgah, Saidabad in Hyderabad to extend their support to the girls protesting to wear hijab in Karnataka pic.twitter.com/o1xNPvS5G5
Justice Krishna S Dixit who was hearing since Tuesday a batch of petitions against Hijab ban in classrooms, maintained that these matters give rise to certain constitutional questions of seminal importance in view of certain aspects of personal law.
‘In view of the enormity of questions of importance which were debated, the court is of the considered opinion that the Chief Justice should decide if a larger bench can be constituted in the subject matter,’ Justice Dixit said.
‘The bench was also of the view that the interim prayers should also be placed before larger bench that may be constituted by Chief Justice Awasthi exercising his discretion,’ Justice Dixit noted in the order. The Hijab row had spread to more colleges in Karnataka on Tuesday and taken violent turn in many campuses in different parts of the State, with spiralling protests for and against wearing of the headscarf by Muslim women students.
The petitions were filed by some Muslim girls studying in Government Pre-University colleges in Udupi district against a ban on their entry into classrooms with their hijabs on. (PTI)
On Karnataka hijab row, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini said, “Schools are for education and religious matters should not be taken there. Every school has a uniform that should be respected. You can wear whatever you want outside the school.”
On Karnataka hijab row, BJP MP Hema Malini says, “Schools are for education and religious matters should not be taken there. Every school has a uniform that should be respected. You can wear whatever you want outside the school.” pic.twitter.com/06ZKueOzWn
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the home department has been instructed to use police training schools to provide self defence training to women. Launching the “Obavva Art of Self Defence Training’ organised by the social welfare department, the Chief Minister said soon self defence training would be provided to girl students in schools and colleges and police training schools will help impart it.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has announced a two-day mourning in honour of the doyen of Indian music and Bharat Ratna awardee Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away in Mumbai on Sunday. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief ministers of the state joined millions of others to condole the demise of iconic playback singer.
