In Rajasthan, BJP MLA stirs up hijab row in school, minister says Muslim ‘thinking more towards crime’

In another video, he is seen on stage, leading the students in chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Saraswati Mata Ki Jai”. He can also be heard saying, “Kuch bachhiyan nahi bol rahin, kya baat hai, mana kiya kya? (Some girls are not saying it. Have you been asked not to?)” He is also seen walking through the school and leading students in chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.

Later, Muslim students gheraoed the Subhash Chowk police station, demanding that the MLA stop “vitiating the atmosphere in schools” and apologise for his actions.

“He goes to the Assembly wearing a saffron robe,” said a protesting student. “So why this discrimination against the hijab?”

Later, in another video after his visit, Acharya said he had asked the principal and others whether there was a provision for two different dresses in government schools and was told there was not.

After the incident, Muslim and Hindu students submitted different complaints to the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jaipur North) Rashi Dogra said the complaints had been forwarded to the District Collector. “Both groups are alleging that they are not being allowed to follow their religious practices in school,” she said.

Afterwards, Rajasthan Cabinet minister Meena, who holds the agriculture portfolio, said, “Because of the fanaticism (dharm ki kattarta) in the Muslim community, and because of the appeasement politics by the Congress, the community has not been able to progress. They have a lack of education, so there should be propagation of education and the Muslim community should have progressive thinking. Instead, their thinking is more towards crime. The dress code in schools should be followed,” Meena said.

“If a girl goes to school wearing a hijab, there won’t be discipline in the school, and students will go to the school in any dress. The dress code should be followed. Hijab is banned in many nations, so it cannot be allowed in schools under any circumstances,” Meena said, adding that he would speak to CM about it since “our MLA has raised this issue”.

“It (hijab) is wrong. There is a dress code in the police, in schools. Else a Station House Officer will wear kurta pajama, dhoti kurta, suit boot,” he said, adding that hijab should be banned not just in government schools, but in private ones too.

Responding to the controversy, the Congress MLA from Jaipur’s Adarsh Nagar, Rafeek Khan, said, “Acharya is doing all this for cheap publicity and to remain in the limelight… He should understand that he is not an MLA of a single political party but of all the castes, religions and all the constituents.”

“Rajasthan is known for Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb (communal harmony) and such things won’t work here and will not be tolerated,” Khan said, pointing to the fact that Acharya was “covered in your (saffron) colour” and “making students chant a religious slogan”.

A controversy around the hijab in educational institutions had erupted in December 2021 in Karnataka too, when six college students in Udupi district were denied entry because of the head covering. The then BJP government had also issued a circular that pre-university colleges must adhere to the dress code.

The six students approached the Karnataka High Court, which upheld the state government’s order. The case is now being challenged in the Supreme Court. In December last year, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had instructed officials that there will be no restrictions on wearing the hijab.