News Analysis India

Tag: Hijab

  • Student cannot wear hijab to secular school as matter of right: Justice Gupta

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A student cannot wear hijab to a secular school as a matter of right, Supreme Court Judge Justice Hemant Gupta said on Thursday, insisting they are required to follow the discipline of the school in the matter of uniform.

    Justice Gupta rejected comparisons with students of Sikh faith carrying Kirpan, saying the essential religious practices of Sikhism cannot be made the basis for the believers of Islam to wear hijab.

    A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia delivered split verdicts on the Karnataka Hijab ban row and referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India for constitution of an appropriate bench to consider the contentious issue.

    In his 140-page judgement, Justice Gupta said, “The schools run by the State are open for admission irrespective of any religion, race, caste, language or any of them.”

    Even the Act (Karnataka Education Act-1983) mandates that the students would be admitted without any restriction on such grounds.

    “However, the students are required to follow the discipline of the school in the matter of uniform. They have no right to be in the school in violation of the mandate of the uniform prescribed under the Statute and the Rules”.

    ALSO READ| Asking pre-university girl to take off hijab at school gate invasion of privacy & dignity: Justice Dhulia

    He said the Karnataka government has not prevented the students from attending classes and, if they choose to stay away due to the issue over uniform that has been prescribed, it is a voluntary act and the state cannot be accused of violating Article 29 (Protection of interests of minorities).

    “It is not a denial of rights by the State but instead a voluntary act of the students. It would thus not amount to denial of the right to education if a student, by choice, does not attend the school. A student, thus, cannot claim the right to wear a headscarf to a secular school as a matter of right,” he said.

    Justice Gupta was answering a question as to whether wearing hijab is an essential religious practice in Islam and a student can seek the right to wear it to a secular school.

    He had framed 11 questions of law on the issue and answered them in the negative to arrive at a conclusion that all the the appeals against the Karnataka High Court verdict deserved to be dismissed.

    ALSO READ: Hijab ban in Karnataka’s educational institutions: A timeline of key events in the case

    To the question on what constitutes the ambit and scope of an essential religious practice under Article 25 of the Constitution, Justice Gupta said the practice of wearing hijab may be a ‘religious practice’ or an ‘essential religious practice’ or it may be a social conduct for the women of Islamic faith.

    “The interpretation by the believers of the faith about wearing of headscarf is the belief or faith of an individual. The religious belief cannot be carried to a secular school maintained out of State funds,” he noted.

    Justice Gupta said it is open to the students to carry their faith in a school which permits them to wear hijab or any other religious mark, maybe tilak, which can be identified with a person holding a particular religious belief but the State is within its jurisdiction to direct that the apparent symbols of religious belief cannot be carried to a school maintained by the State from the State funds.

    “Thus, the practice of wearing hijab could be restricted by the State in terms of the Government Order,” he said, adding equality before law is to treat all citizens equally, irrespective of caste, creed, sex or place of birth and such equality cannot be breached by the State on the basis of religious faith.

    ALSO READ: SC delivers split verdict on Karnataka Hijab ban

    Responding to the comparison with Sikhism and students following the faith carrying the kirpan to educational institutions, the judge said,” It would not be proper to discuss the essential religious practices of the followers of the said faith without hearing them.”

    “The practices of each faith have to be examined on the basis of the tenets of that religion alone. The essential religious practices of the followers of Sikh faith cannot be made basis of wearing of hijab/headscarf by the believers of Islamic faith,” he said.

    Justice Gupta said in the matters of campus discipline, the Court does not substitute its own views in place of the school authority except in a case of manifest injustice or to interfere with a decision which does not pass the test of reasonableness.

    He said the Karnataka government has not put any restriction on the exercise of the right conferred under Article 19(1)(a) but has regulated the same in a manner that during the school hours on working days and in the class the students shall wear the uniform as prescribed.

    NEW DELHI: A student cannot wear hijab to a secular school as a matter of right, Supreme Court Judge Justice Hemant Gupta said on Thursday, insisting they are required to follow the discipline of the school in the matter of uniform.

    Justice Gupta rejected comparisons with students of Sikh faith carrying Kirpan, saying the essential religious practices of Sikhism cannot be made the basis for the believers of Islam to wear hijab.

    A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia delivered split verdicts on the Karnataka Hijab ban row and referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India for constitution of an appropriate bench to consider the contentious issue.

    In his 140-page judgement, Justice Gupta said, “The schools run by the State are open for admission irrespective of any religion, race, caste, language or any of them.”

    Even the Act (Karnataka Education Act-1983) mandates that the students would be admitted without any restriction on such grounds.

    “However, the students are required to follow the discipline of the school in the matter of uniform. They have no right to be in the school in violation of the mandate of the uniform prescribed under the Statute and the Rules”.

    ALSO READ| Asking pre-university girl to take off hijab at school gate invasion of privacy & dignity: Justice Dhulia

    He said the Karnataka government has not prevented the students from attending classes and, if they choose to stay away due to the issue over uniform that has been prescribed, it is a voluntary act and the state cannot be accused of violating Article 29 (Protection of interests of minorities).

    “It is not a denial of rights by the State but instead a voluntary act of the students. It would thus not amount to denial of the right to education if a student, by choice, does not attend the school. A student, thus, cannot claim the right to wear a headscarf to a secular school as a matter of right,” he said.

    Justice Gupta was answering a question as to whether wearing hijab is an essential religious practice in Islam and a student can seek the right to wear it to a secular school.

    He had framed 11 questions of law on the issue and answered them in the negative to arrive at a conclusion that all the the appeals against the Karnataka High Court verdict deserved to be dismissed.

    ALSO READ: Hijab ban in Karnataka’s educational institutions: A timeline of key events in the case

    To the question on what constitutes the ambit and scope of an essential religious practice under Article 25 of the Constitution, Justice Gupta said the practice of wearing hijab may be a ‘religious practice’ or an ‘essential religious practice’ or it may be a social conduct for the women of Islamic faith.

    “The interpretation by the believers of the faith about wearing of headscarf is the belief or faith of an individual. The religious belief cannot be carried to a secular school maintained out of State funds,” he noted.

    Justice Gupta said it is open to the students to carry their faith in a school which permits them to wear hijab or any other religious mark, maybe tilak, which can be identified with a person holding a particular religious belief but the State is within its jurisdiction to direct that the apparent symbols of religious belief cannot be carried to a school maintained by the State from the State funds.

    “Thus, the practice of wearing hijab could be restricted by the State in terms of the Government Order,” he said, adding equality before law is to treat all citizens equally, irrespective of caste, creed, sex or place of birth and such equality cannot be breached by the State on the basis of religious faith.

    ALSO READ: SC delivers split verdict on Karnataka Hijab ban

    Responding to the comparison with Sikhism and students following the faith carrying the kirpan to educational institutions, the judge said,” It would not be proper to discuss the essential religious practices of the followers of the said faith without hearing them.”

    “The practices of each faith have to be examined on the basis of the tenets of that religion alone. The essential religious practices of the followers of Sikh faith cannot be made basis of wearing of hijab/headscarf by the believers of Islamic faith,” he said.

    Justice Gupta said in the matters of campus discipline, the Court does not substitute its own views in place of the school authority except in a case of manifest injustice or to interfere with a decision which does not pass the test of reasonableness.

    He said the Karnataka government has not put any restriction on the exercise of the right conferred under Article 19(1)(a) but has regulated the same in a manner that during the school hours on working days and in the class the students shall wear the uniform as prescribed.

  • Hijab ban row: Petitioners allege “pattern” to marginalise minority community 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that the hijab is the “identity” of Muslims, senior advocate Dushyant Dave told the Supreme Court on Monday that various acts of commission like Karnataka’s headscarf controversy showed a “pattern to marginalise the minority community”.

    The apex court was hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state that have prescribed uniforms.

    “This is not about uniform. I will be able to show to your lordships that by series of acts of commission and acts of omission that have happened, unfortunate incidents, I am not blaming any individual or anybody, but these acts of commission and omission show that there is a pattern to marginalise the minority community,” Dave told a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

    Arguing that the country has been built on liberal traditions and religious beliefs, Dave, appearing for some of the petitioners, said the kind of atmosphere being seen today was far removed from being called liberal which we have been for 5,000 years.

    “You (the state authority) are passing this resolution ostensibly saying uniform. Actually, it is for some other purpose.

    The whole idea is that how do I tell the minority community that you are not allowed to profess your beliefs, you are not allowed to follow your conscience? You will do what I tell you,” Dave said.

    “We have not hurt anybody’s sentiments by wearing hijab. Our identity is hijab,” he asserted.

    The senior advocate said the Constitution has always been interpreted liberally and never in a restrictive sense, and the scope and ambit of Articles 19 and 21 have been expanded in every possible way.

    While Article 19 of the Constitution deals with protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech etc, Article 21 pertains to protection of life and personal liberty.

    Dave said over 10,000 suicide bombings have taken place in the Islamic world, and in India, only one such incident happened in Pulwama.

    He was referring to the 2019 terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama where a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of security forces, killing 40 of them and wounding many others.

    “That shows that the minority community has placed its faith in us, the majority,” he said.

    In the course of arguments, Dave referred to some debates in the Constituent Assembly.

    “My question is, to what extent the Constituent Assembly debates can be relied upon to interpret the provisions of the Constitution,” asked Justice Hemant Gupta.

    “My respectful answer to that is, to full extent,” Dave said. Dave also asked does wearing hijab amount to threatening the unity or integrity of the country.

    “That nobody is saying,” the bench said, adding, “That even the judgment (of the High Court) does not say.”

    During the arguments, which would continue on Tuesday, the bench also asked about religious practices.

    Dave said the religious practice is what the community practises as part of its religious belief.

    The bench observed that traditionally, whenever a person used to go to a respected place, he or she would cover their heads.

    “In my respectful submission, school is the most respected place. It is a place of worship,” Dave responded, adding even the prime Minister wears a headgear on August 15.

    The Karnataka government’s order of February 5, 2022 by which it banned wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges, was referred to in the apex court.

    Several pleas have been filed in the top court against the March 15 verdict of the high court holding that wearing a hijab is not a part of the essential religious practice which can be protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.

    The high court had dismissed the pleas filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom.

    Challenging the February 5 order of the government, the petitioners had argued before the high court that wearing the Islamic headscarf was an innocent practice of faith and an essential religious practice and not a display of religious jingoism.

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that the hijab is the “identity” of Muslims, senior advocate Dushyant Dave told the Supreme Court on Monday that various acts of commission like Karnataka’s headscarf controversy showed a “pattern to marginalise the minority community”.

    The apex court was hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state that have prescribed uniforms.

    “This is not about uniform. I will be able to show to your lordships that by series of acts of commission and acts of omission that have happened, unfortunate incidents, I am not blaming any individual or anybody, but these acts of commission and omission show that there is a pattern to marginalise the minority community,” Dave told a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

    Arguing that the country has been built on liberal traditions and religious beliefs, Dave, appearing for some of the petitioners, said the kind of atmosphere being seen today was far removed from being called liberal which we have been for 5,000 years.

    “You (the state authority) are passing this resolution ostensibly saying uniform. Actually, it is for some other purpose.

    The whole idea is that how do I tell the minority community that you are not allowed to profess your beliefs, you are not allowed to follow your conscience? You will do what I tell you,” Dave said.

    “We have not hurt anybody’s sentiments by wearing hijab. Our identity is hijab,” he asserted.

    The senior advocate said the Constitution has always been interpreted liberally and never in a restrictive sense, and the scope and ambit of Articles 19 and 21 have been expanded in every possible way.

    While Article 19 of the Constitution deals with protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech etc, Article 21 pertains to protection of life and personal liberty.

    Dave said over 10,000 suicide bombings have taken place in the Islamic world, and in India, only one such incident happened in Pulwama.

    He was referring to the 2019 terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama where a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of security forces, killing 40 of them and wounding many others.

    “That shows that the minority community has placed its faith in us, the majority,” he said.

    In the course of arguments, Dave referred to some debates in the Constituent Assembly.

    “My question is, to what extent the Constituent Assembly debates can be relied upon to interpret the provisions of the Constitution,” asked Justice Hemant Gupta.

    “My respectful answer to that is, to full extent,” Dave said. Dave also asked does wearing hijab amount to threatening the unity or integrity of the country.

    “That nobody is saying,” the bench said, adding, “That even the judgment (of the High Court) does not say.”

    During the arguments, which would continue on Tuesday, the bench also asked about religious practices.

    Dave said the religious practice is what the community practises as part of its religious belief.

    The bench observed that traditionally, whenever a person used to go to a respected place, he or she would cover their heads.

    “In my respectful submission, school is the most respected place. It is a place of worship,” Dave responded, adding even the prime Minister wears a headgear on August 15.

    The Karnataka government’s order of February 5, 2022 by which it banned wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges, was referred to in the apex court.

    Several pleas have been filed in the top court against the March 15 verdict of the high court holding that wearing a hijab is not a part of the essential religious practice which can be protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.

    The high court had dismissed the pleas filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom.

    Challenging the February 5 order of the government, the petitioners had argued before the high court that wearing the Islamic headscarf was an innocent practice of faith and an essential religious practice and not a display of religious jingoism.

  • ‘Just gave my perspective’: Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu on hijab comments

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Days after her remarks on hijab made headlines, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu on Wednesday said as a youth of the country she simply shared her perspective when asked to comment on the issue.

    The 24-year-old, who won the coveted pageant earlier this year, said the matter in question was something she felt she “needed” to address because she believes in letting one live the way they choose to.

    “Being the youth of my country. I’m a student of Masters in Public Administration, it’s important to have your perspective about anything that’s happening around the world,” Sandhu said at an event here.

    A clip of the model-actor went viral on social media last week in which a reporter can be seen asking Sandhu about her views on hijab.

    The video was part of an event held in Mumbai on March 17 in the honour of the Miss Universe 2021’s homecoming.

    In her response, she had appealed to society to stop targeting girls, including on the issue of hijab, saying “Let them live the way they choose to.”

    On Wednesday, Sandhu reiterated her views, adding after she spoke out people started suggesting that she was “supporting” the practice of hijab.

    “I think I just gave my perspective to it. And at the end of the day, that girl is dominated by the patriarchy system or if that girl is wearing a hijab, that’s her choice. Even if she’s getting dominated, she needs to come and speak.”

    “Until she doesn’t support herself, how can I support her? And if that’s her choice, then that’s her choice. Let her live the way she wants to live. We are women of all colours, we are women of different cultures, we need to respect each other. I think we all have different lives, so why do you want to pressurise and dominate somebody else?” she added.

    Sandhu also spoke about being body shamed on social media as she revealed that she has celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

    “I’m one of those individuals who was first bullied that ‘she’s too skinny’ and now they bully me saying ‘she’s fat’. Nobody knows about my Celiac disease. That I can’t eat wheat flour and many other things,” she said.

    Sandhu, who has been globetrotting as part of her duties as the spokesperson of the Miss Universe Organization, said one’s body undergoes a lot of changes when they live across different cities.

    “When you go to a village, you see changes in your body. And I went to New York for the very first time. It is a whole other world altogether.”

    The model said the noise around her body image doesn’t hold any importance for her.

    “I’m someone who believes in body positivity and one of the Miss Universes for the very first time is going through that. On the platform of Miss Universe, we talk about women empowerment, womanhood, and body positivity.”

    “And if I am going through that. I know there are a lot of people who are trolling me and it’s okay because that’s their mindset, their stigmas, but there are a lot of other individuals who are trolled every day irrespective of their Miss Universe or not. I’m empowering them by making them feel that if I feel gorgeous, you are beautiful too,” she said.

    It’s in our minds how we perceive beauty, Sandhu said.

    “For me everyone is beautiful. It’s about how you represent yourself and what kind of ideology you have. Your features do not matter at one moment. If you think that I’m the most beautiful girl that’s why I won Miss Universe, I’m sorry, you’re wrong.”

    “I might not be the most beautiful (girl) but I might be the one of the courageous and confident girls who believes even if I’m fat, even if I’m thin, it’s my body, I love myself. I love the changes and you should appreciate it because not everyone can go through the changes. So be happy if you’re going through changes. If you are facing challenges in life, you should be thankful because that means something good is going to happen.”

    Sandhu also met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at his official residence.

    Later, while responding to a question during her interaction with reporters here, she said drug menace in the state, women empowerment, and other issues were discussed during the meeting with the chief minister.

    She said she wants to do a lot for her home state Punjab.

    “I am really looking forward to how I can support (the state). It was a beautiful and informative meeting,” she said about the meeting with Mann during which Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Raghav Chadha and Sandhu’s family were also present.

    Earlier in the day, the government of Punjab shared a tweet about Sandhu’s meeting with the chief minister.

    “Miss Universe @HarnaazKaur Sandhu called on CM @BhagwantMann today at his official residence. The Chief Minister congratulated her for making the country proud by bringing the title of Miss Universe back to India after 21 years,” said a tweet by the Punjab government.

    Talking about her journey to winning the Miss Universe 2021 pageant at the event, Sandhu said it was difficult for her to put the experience of winning the coveted crown after 21 years for the country into words.

    She also thanked her family for being her constant pillar of support.

    Asked for her comments on “The Kashmir Files”, Sandhu said she has heard a lot about the film but has yet to watch it owing to her busy schedule.

  • Hijab ban: Plea moved in SC challenging Karnataka High Court verdict

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A special leave petition has been filed in the Supreme court by a Udupi student against the Karnataka High Court court order that ruled that wearing of hijab by Muslim women is not an essential religious practice in the Islamic faith and prescribing uniform is not a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution.

    ALSO READ | Hijab row: Udupi Muslim girls say they will not go to college without hijab and fight it legally

    The plea states that the high court has failed to note that the right to wear a Hijab comes under the ambit of ‘expression’ and is thus protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

    “… High Court has failed to note that the right to wear a Hijab is protected as a part of the right to conscience under Article 25 of the Constitution. It is submitted that since the right to conscience is essentially an individual right, the ‘Essential Religious Practices Test’ ought not to have been applied by the Hon’ble High Court in this instant case,” the plea reads.

    It has been said in the plea that the high court has failed to note that the Indian legal system explicitly recognizes the wearing/carrying of religious symbols.

    ALSO READ | Hope attempts to push Muslim women into four walls of house fail, says Kerala Guv welcoming Hijab verdict

    “…It is pertinent to note that Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, exempts turban-wearing Sikhs from wearing a helmet. Order IX, Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules makes a special provision for affidavits that are to be sworn by pardanashin women…” It added.

    Upholding the government order dated February 5, 2022, banning the hijab in classrooms, a full bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justices Krishna S Dixit, and Justice JM Khazi pronounced the verdict on a cluster of petitions questioning the order passed by the state government banning the wearing of hijab in classrooms.

  • Hijab ban in classroom: Plea in SC challenges Karnataka HC verdict

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear Hijab inside the classroom saying Hijab is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith.

    The petition has been filed in the apex court by a Muslim student who was one of the petitioners before the high court.

    Earlier in the day, the high court dismissed the petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear Hijab inside the classroom.

    The prescription of school uniform is only a reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to, the high court said.

    In the plea filed in the top court, the petitioner has said the high court has “erred in creating a dichotomy of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience wherein the court has inferred that those who follow a religion cannot have the right to conscience.”

    “The high court has failed to note that the right to wear a Hijab comes under the ambit of the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. It is submitted that the freedom of conscience forms a part of the right to privacy,” it said.

    The plea said the petitioner had approached the high court seeking redressal for the alleged violation of their fundamental rights against the state government order of February 5, 2022 issued under Sections 7 and 133 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983.

    “The impugned government order directed the college development committees all over the state of Karnataka to prescribe a ‘student uniform’ that mandated the students to wear the official uniform and in absence of any designated uniform the students were mandated to wear an uniform that was in the essence of unity, equality and public order,” it said.

    The plea said the high court failed to note that the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 and the rules made thereunder do not provide for any mandatory uniform to be worn by students.

    “The petitioner submits that the high court has failed to note that there does not exist any provision in law which prescribes any punishment for students for not wearing uniforms. Even if one were to presume that there existed a mandate to wear a particular uniform, there is no punishment prescribed in case a student does not wear the uniform,” it said.

    The petition said neither the Act nor the Rules prescribe any uniform for students or prohibit the wearing of a Hijab.

    “The high court has failed to note that the right to wear a Hijab comes under the ambit of ‘expression’ and is thus protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution,” it said.

    The plea claimed that the high court has failed to note that right to wear a Hijab is protected as a part of the right to conscience under Article 25 of the Constitution.

    It said since the right to conscience is essentially an individual right, the ‘Essential Religious Practices Test’ ought not to have been applied by the high court in the case.

    “Assuming the ‘Essential Religious Practices Test’ does apply, the high court has failed to note that wearing of Hijab or headscarf is a practice that is essential to the practice of Islam,” the petition said. It claimed that the high court has failed to note that Indian legal system explicitly recognises the wearing/carrying of religious symbols.

    The plea said Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, exempts turban wearing Sikhs from wearing a helmet and under the rules made by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Sikhs are allowed to carry kirpans onto aircraft.

    “This public order was passed with an indirect intent of attacking the religious minorities and specifically the followers of Islamic faith by ridiculing the female Muslim students wearing Hijab. This ridiculing attack was under the guise of attaining secularity and equality on the basis of uniform wherein the college development committees prohibited the students wearing Hijab from entering the premises of the educational institutions,” it said.

    “This step-motherly behaviour of government authorities has prevented students from practising their faith which has resulted in an unwanted law and order situation,” the plea said.

    Meanwhile, a caveat has also been filed in the apex court by another person, who was a party before the high court, seeking to be heard before any order is passed in the matter.

    The high court maintained that the government has power to issue impugned order dated February 5, 2022 and no case is made out for its invalidation.

    By the said order, the Karnataka government had banned wearing clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order in schools and colleges, which the Muslim girls had challenged in the high court.

    Challenging the February 5 order of the government, the petitioners had argued before the high court that wearing the Islamic headscarf was an innocent practice of faith and an Essential Religious Practice (ERP), and not a mere display of religious jingoism.

    The petitioners had also contended that the restriction violated the freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(A) and article 21 dealing with personal liberty.

  • DMK MP Kanimozhi slams BJP over hijab row, says it turns people against people

    By ANI

    CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi on Saturday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka and alleged that they turn people against people. She said that what a woman chooses to wear is her right.

    Speaking to the reporters after casting her vote at St Ebbas Girls Higher Secondary School, Chennai in the ongoing Urban Local Body Elections in 38 districts of Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi said, “It’s very sad that they turn people against people in the name of religion. What a woman chooses to wear is her right. I don’t think anybody has the right to decide whether it is too much or too little.”

    Talking about the ongoing local body polls, the DMK MP said that the people are satisfied with the work of the state government which will reflect in the results of the polls.

    “People are very satisfied with the DMK government, and I think that will definitely be reflected in the verdict of the local body elections. It will be a very good victory for the DMK,” she said.

    ALSO READ | Hijab row, FIR filed against 15 girl students in Karnataka’s Tumakuru

    Earlier today, Chief Minister MK Stalin cast his vote at a polling booth at SIET College in Teynampet, and urged people to cast their votes and exercise their democratic rights while voting for the local body elections in 38 districts of Tamil Nadu was underway.

    Speaking to reporters, CM Stalin said, “Mahatma Gandhi had mentioned the importance of civic bodies in the Indian polity. The civic bodies help the government schemes to reach out to the people. People should compulsorily vote.”

    He further said, “A couple of days, AIADMK MLA SO Velumani staged a protest, demanding the deployment of Paramilitary forces in the city. This is nothing other than just a drama.”

    The CM also said, “While casting their votes, people are complaining against certain initiatives and we assure action will be taken according to its merit.” He also said that the DMK alliance would win all the 21 corporation elections. 

  • MP government orders probe after clip shows chanting of ‘Jai Shriram’ on seeing burqa-clad girls entering college

    By PTI

    BHOPAL/DATIA: The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry after a video showed a group of people raising “Jai Shriram” slogans on seeing two girls clad in burqa and hijab entering a government college in Datia town.

    Ordering the inquiry, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who is the government spokesman, reiterated on Tuesday that there was no proposal to ban the wearing of the hijab in Madhya Pradesh.

    The viral video clip showed some young men raising slogans of ‘Jai Shriram’ after seeing two girls clad in burqa and hijab entering the campus of the government post-graduate college in Datia.

    This incident occurred on Monday (February 14).

    The college had recently issued an order banning students from wearing religious attire, including hijab.

    “Datia is a living example of communal harmony. I have seen the video of Datia PG College. I have directed the district collector to inquire into the order issued by its principal. The state government has already clarified that there is no proposal to ban hijab in Madhya Pradesh and nobody should create confusion on this issue,” Mishra, who is MLA from Datia, said in a video statement.

    Ajay Singh Raj, a Bajrang Dal activist, had said in a statement that saffron activists had paid a surprise visit to the Datia PG college campus and found that some students reached there wearing burqa and hijab, “which is not as per the Constitution”.

    “If this (wearing of burqa and hijab) continues, Hindu students will reach the said college in the ‘bhagwa’ (saffron) uniform,” he said and threatened to launch an agitation against the college management.

    Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Bhopal (Central) Arif Masood thanked the state home minister for ordering an inquiry.

    He said since the state government had already clarified that there was no proposal on cards to ban the wearing of hijab on campus, the educational institutions should not bear any confusion in mind in this regard.

    He urged people to refrain from spreading misinformation on this issue.

    “I appeal to educational institutions to protect students as examinations are underway,” the MLA added.

  • A girl in hijab will be country’s PM one day: Asaduddin Owaisi

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: A girl wearing Hijab will become the prime minister of the country one day, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said amid the controversy over Muslim women’s headscarves.

    “If a girl decides to wear Hijab and asks her parents to do so and when her parents allow her to wear it, who can stop her from wearing it? We will see it, Inshaallah Owaisi is heard saying in a 43-second video of his address in an election rally.

    “The girls will wear hijab, will wear Niqab and go to colleges and become doctors, collectors, SDMs and businessmen,” Owaisi was heard saying in the video, shared on his Twitter handle.

    “You all keep in mind, perhaps when I am not alive, a girl wearing a hijab will become the prime minister of this country one day,” he added.

    The hijab row started in Karnataka in December-end when a few students of a government pre-university college in Udupi, attending classes in headscarves, were asked to leave the campus.

    The matter then spread to different parts of the state, with youngsters, backed by right-wing outfits, responding by wearing saffron scarves.

    With the protests taking a violent turn at some places earlier this week, the state government on Tuesday declared a three-day holiday for the institutions.

    Hyderabad MP Owaisi’s party All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen is fighting the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections as part of the Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha, its pre-poll alliance with little-known Jan Adhikar Party of former state minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and an all-India body of government employees of the backward, Dalits and minority community.

  • Hijab row: Confident of peace, says Karnataka CM as schools reopen tomorrow

    By PTI

    HUBBALLI: A day ahead of high schools across the state up to class 10 that were shut in the wake of the Hijab row, reopening, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday expressed confidence that peace and normalcy will prevail.

    He also said a decision regarding reopening of Pre-University and Degree colleges will be taken after assessing the situation.

    “High schools up to class 10 will reopen tomorrow, already Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Deputy Director of Public Instruction of all districts have been asked to hold peace meetings involving parents and teachers at important schools aimed at maintaining a cordial atmosphere. I’m confident that schools will function peacefully,” Bommai said.

    ALSO READ: Udupi DC imposes Section 144 near high school premises

    Speaking to reporters here, he said that he has asked Education Ministers to submit a report after examining the situation regarding reopening of Pre-University and Degree colleges, based on the assessment a meeting will be held and a decision will be taken.

    The government on Friday had said that the holiday announced to universities belonging to the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), in the wake of the Hijab row, has been extended till February 16.

    Regarding reports about the involvement of certain organisations and foreign hands behind the hijab row, the Chief Minister in response to a question said, “such reports in the media and social media are being taken note by our investigating officials, who are also gathering information on their end.”

    “What is before me, and my first duty is that schools and colleges should return to normal functioning, and students should study in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere and prepare for exams that is likely by March-April,” he said.

    As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9.

    Following the court order, the government on February 10 had decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and Degree Colleges thereafter.

    The Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the Hijab row, had earlier requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom.

    In the wake of reopening of schools, the government had last week issued a series of directions to district administrations, aimed at maintaining peace and that the High Court order is not violated.

    Bommai, who also holds the Finance portfolio and will be presenting his first budget early next month said, all-round development of the state is in his mind.

    “After the economic slowdown due to COVID for the last two years, things are recovering in the last four to five months, there is improvement in the revenue collection. Budget will focus on economic development, public welfare and financial discipline. We will have to give a boost to an economy that has slowed down, also priority has to be given to weaker sections and working class,” he added.

  • Supreme Court to consider listing plea on Karnataka hijab row

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider a submission seeking the listing of a plea for transferring a case on the hijab row from the Karnataka High Court to itself.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said the high court is seized of the case and should be allowed to continue with the hearing and decide it.

    Seeking transfer of the case and hearing by a nine-judge bench at the top court, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said, “The problem is that schools and colleges are closed. Girls are being stoned. It’s spreading across the country.”

    After being told by Sibal that he did not want any order and only listing of the plea, the CJI said, “We will see.”

    On Wednesday, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi constituted a full bench, comprising himself and Justices Krishna S Dixit and J M Khazi, which will look into the hijab matter on Thursday.