On hijab ban, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge says THIS
Priyank Kharge said that the government will take a relook and all such policies and legislations of the previous BJP government which are against the Constitution
PremiumKarnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday said that all those orders and legislations enforced under the previous government which are against the state's interest or are against the constitution would be revised or withdrawn by the new Congress government. The remark by the minister came as there are demands from various quarters to overturn the "hijab ban" in the state.
Priyank Kharge said that the government will take a relook and all such policies and legislations of the previous BJP government which are against the Constitution, against the spirit of building the society, and against the inclusiveness of the society.
Interests of Kannadigas
The minister in the newly elected Karnataka cabinet, Priyank Kharge assured that all such orders and legislations will be withdrawn which come in the way of the economic progress and prosperity of the state or go against the interests of Kannadigas.
"Previous government had decided to observe certain jayantis (birth anniversary of prominent figures) and left out others. Not only jayantis, their orders, whether it is regarding textbooks, anti-cow slaughter, anti-conversion bills (laws), all of them will be revised," he said.
"All those bills (laws) and orders that hamper the economic progress of Karnataka, its prosperity, and will affect Kannadigas, will be withdrawn. Making Karnataka once again the number one is our intention, and we will take steps in that direction," the minister said speaking to the reporters.
Hijab Ban: A recap
The “hijab ban" in Karnataka is a controversy that erupted in January 2022 when some Muslim students of a college in the Udupi district of the state were not allowed to attend classes while wearing hijabs. The college said that wearing a hijab goes against the dress prescribed as per the norms of the institution.
The incident took a political turn and political parties also jumped in the fray. The BJP-led Karnataka government said that wearing a hijab is not an essential religious practice and that the freedom of religion is subjected to reasonable restrictions. The government also added that educational institutions can prescribe dress codes to ensure uniformity and secularism in students.
Karnataka high court upheld the state government circular and observed that wearing the hijab is not an Essential Religious Practice and hence does not merit protection under Article 25 of the Constitution.
The order was appealed before the Supreme Court of India where the apex court delivered a split verdict. Currently, the matter is pending before a larger bench of the Supreme Court.
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