A day after stating categorically that his government would do away with the ban on wearing hijab in classrooms, imposed by the erstwhile BJP regime, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday toned down his stand, saying that the State government was as yet only “contemplating” such a move.
This came even as the BJP attacked him for the proposal, calling it an attempt to “sow the seeds of religious identity politics” in classrooms.
‘Not yet done’
When reporters asked Mr. Siddaramaiah on Saturday in Mysuru if the withdrawal of order on ban on hijab would come into effect from the ensuing academic year, the Chief Minister said the government had not yet withdrawn it. “When a question in the regard was asked, I said that the government was thinking about withdrawing it,” he maintained.
He said that he would have to discuss the matter with officials at the government level and take a decision.
‘U-turn’
The Chief Minister dithering on the issue also drew criticism from the BJP. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R. Ashok, took to his social media handle to describe the Chief Minister’s latest statement on hijab ban withdrawal as a “U-turn” and a sign of him “losing control over the administration”.
He said: “The Chief Minister had floated the idea yesterday to cover up his government’s failures, but changed his tune after strong reactions emerged.”
Meanwhile, sources in the Department of School Education and Literacy said that they had as yet got no direction on revoking the earlier order, which in effect banned hijab in classrooms. “Not even any kind of preliminary discussion has been held in this regard,” said an official.
On Friday, speaking at an event in Nanjangud in Mysuru district, Mr. Siddaramaiah vehemently stated that people could wear a dress of their choice and eat the food of their choice, while stating that the circular banning hijab in educational institutions would be withdrawn.
