Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has urged Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government to ensure that Bajrang Dal, SDPI or PFI are not allowed to vitiate the environment of educational institutes.This statement from the Congress spokesperson comes after the Karnataka High Court today upheld the Hijab ban in educational institutions.
Expressing concern about the education and law and order situation in the state, Surjewala said post-judgement of Karnataka High Court, the onus of ensuring the education of the girl child and maintaining peace and harmony in educational institutions remains the responsibility of the Bommai government.
The issue is pending in Supreme Court and everyone should await the verdict, he tweeted.
“Dharma of imparting scientific and modern education to all children isn’t abandoned at the altar of political expediency. The peaceful atmosphere and communal amity are not sacrificed for BJP’s agenda of polarising the State on communal lines,” said Surjewala in another tweet.
He also urged the state government to initiate steps for the attendance of girls in schools and colleges, irrespective of religion.
Surjewala had made a similar statement in Lok Sabha before.
This statement from Surjewala comes after Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivkumar expressed similar concerns saying the Karnataka government must show mature leadership and ensure communal harmony is kept alive in the state.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed various petitions challenging a ban on Hijab in education institutions and said that wearing a Hijab is not an essential religious practice of Islam.
A bench of Karnataka High Court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit, and Justice JM Khazi said that no case is made out for invalidating the Government Order of February 5, reported ANI.
It further termed the prescription of school uniforms a reasonable restriction to which the students cannot object.
The Hijab row erupted in January this year when the Government PU College in Udupi allegedly barred six girls wearing the hijab from entering. After this, the girls sat in protest sat outside college over being denied entry.
