Karnataka hijab propaganda: ‘School management, parents should abide by court order’ says CM Bommai

Everyone should abide by the High Court order, said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday, while speaking to media persons after attending the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the State Assembly.

Amid the ongoing hijab propaganda, the High court on Monday had resumed hearing on the petition challenging wearing hijab in colleges.

The Karnataka High Court stated that this decision comes under the ambit of article 25 and it is not legally sustainable and also asked the media to be more responsible.

After the High Court gave its final judgement, few incidents were reported in the city.

Referring to the incidents, CM Bommai said, “Schools up to the 10th standard have reopened today. A few incidents have been reported from various districts. A meeting would be convened to discuss the lacunae and standard operating procedures. School management, principals and the parents have the responsibility of obeying the High Court order. It will create a conducive atmosphere for the High Court to deliver its final judgement. We should maintain restraint till then.”

Karnataka pre-university, degree colleges to reopen

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government on Monday decided to reopen pre-university and degree colleges across the state, that were shut due to hijab row, from February 16.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, which was attended by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh, Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, and senior officials of the government.

“At the meeting, the current situation in the state was analysed. It was decided to reopen PU and Degree colleges from Wednesday,” Nagesh said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said the colleges will reopen on the basis of the Karnataka High Court’s interim order.

“Wherever (in colleges) there are uniform related rules, it has to be strictly followed. Where a uniform is not there, the dress code will be decided. We will strictly follow the High Court order,” he added.

As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government had declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9, and it was subsequently extended up to February 16.

However, the Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the hijab row, last week had 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.

Following the court order, the government had decided to resume classes for high school students up to Class 10 from February 14, and for pre-university and degree colleges thereafter, and accordingly high schools across the state reopened today.

Expressing confidence that there will be no untoward incidents when colleges reopen, Home Minister Jnanendra said police are with educational institutions and see to it that there is no disturbance to peace.

Police officials are gathering information regarding how the row got escalated, and an investigation is on in this regard.

News Credit: India TV News