In a recent development in the ongoing Hijab controversy in Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, the Minister for IT & BT, as well as Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RDPR), voiced his support for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to revoke restrictions imposed by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime in 2022.
Kharge, who is also the Chairman for Communications of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, addressed allegations from the opposition BJP accusing the ruling party of engaging in “appeasement politics” and “divide and rule” tactics.
The minister firmly stated that the Karnataka government’s decision aligns with the law and the framework of the Constitution. Responding to the BJP’s criticism, Kharge urged them to focus on internal matters first, stating, “Whatever the Karnataka government is doing is as per the law and framework of the Constitution. BJP has no work to do; they should set their house in order first.”
The BJP’s Karnataka unit has been vehemently opposing the lifting of the Hijab ban, with B Y Vijayendra asserting that the Congress-led government is “dividing young minds along religious lines.” In a social media post, he expressed concerns about the secular nature of educational spaces, suggesting that allowing religious attire could potentially hinder the inclusive learning environment.
The controversy dates back to January of the previous year when a Government Pre-University College in Udupi allegedly denied entry to six female students wearing headscarves (hijab). This incident marked the beginning of the Hijab row, leading to subsequent debates and legal discussions on religious attire in educational institutions.
As the issue continues to unfold, it remains a focal point of political discourse in Karnataka, with contrasting opinions on the balance between religious freedom and maintaining a secular educational environment. The stance taken by Priyank Kharge aligns with the Karnataka government’s commitment to upholding the law and constitutional values in addressing the Hijab controversy.
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