Opposition demands Shah statement on hijab row, walks out of Lok Sabha

Opposition Congress raised the issue during zero hour, seeking a statement from Shah “on the atrocities being committed on Muslim girls in Karnataka in the name of hijab”. But the BJP members protested, saying the matter is sub judice as it is pending in Karnataka High Court.

Pointing out that wearing hijab is not a crime, the opposition parties – Congress, DMK, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK, Muslim League and JMM – staged a walkout.

Students wearing hijab seen protesting at MGM college in Udupi in Karnataka | Express photo by Jitendra M

Raising the issue during zero hour, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: “Inside the House, we talk about lofty ideas – sabka saath sabka vikas… and we talk about equality. Lot of people follow different religions. People have different identities linked with their religion. Hindus wear tilak on their forehead. Muslim women wear hijab. Wearing a hijab is not a crime. An atmosphere of fear has been created in the country.”

“There is an attempt to force the girls to take off their hijabs,” Chowdhury said, adding that the Union Home Minister should make a statement on the matter in the House.

But BJP’s Shivakumar Udasi alleged that the Congress was making unnecessary hue and cry over the issue although there are several court orders which say that law and order should get precedence. “All the courts have said that public interest should prevail… It is a state matter also,” he said. Udassi said the matter was pending in Karnataka High Court.

Congress MP from Kerala Hibi Eden has given a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue. “Several educational institutions in Karnataka have started to bar students from wearing the hijab, though there is no government-mandated rule against the same. Wearing hijab is a fundamental right of the students, violation of Article 25 of Indian Constitution by the Karnataka government shows its negligence of Constitution of India,” the notice said.

“The decision of a college at Udipi in Karnataka not to allow students wearing hijab inside classrooms has led netizens highlighting the plight of the girls who are fighting for their fundamental right to practice religion. Also by preventing them from attending classes, their right to education is being violated,” it said.

Students, some wearing hijabs and others in saffron scarves, converged outside the gates of the MGM College in Udupi on Tuesday. (Express photo by Jithendra M)

However, the Speaker rejected an adjournment motion on the issue.

Outside the House, Sumalatha Ambareesh, Independent MP from Mandya in Karnataka, said the issue was being politicised. “I am for personal freedom according to religion. Having said that I think students and education should be kept out of politics. Now it is more of a political fight rather than religious issue. I feel strongly for the students, they deserved to have good education. Religion should be kept out of this and no party should indulge in politics over it,” she told The Indian Express.

Lok Sabha witnessed a spat between the ruling and opposition MPs when T N Prathapan MP raised the matter on Monday.

In Rajya Sabha, Congress member L Hanumanthaiah tried to raise the issue but his speech was cut short as the zero hour ended.