Bengaluru, May 14 (IANS). Leader of opposition in Karnataka R. Ashok on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the state government’s decision to withdraw the School Uniform Order of 2022 and allow limited traditional and religious symbols, including hijab, in schools and colleges.
BJP leader Ashok alleged that the Congress government has again raised the hijab issue as part of a “desperate appeasement strategy” following the Davanagere by-election results and growing discontent among minority voters.
“Frightened by the results of the Davanagere by-election and the growing anger among its minority voter base, the Congress government has once again adopted its old divisive tactics,” Ashok said.
He alleged that while Karnataka is facing problems like rising inflation, corruption, farmer suicides and deteriorating law and order, the state government is focusing on religious issues for political gains.
“This is not an issue of rights. This is a calculated political bribe to appease a specific community which has recently expressed its discontent,” he said.
Ashok also criticized the state government for alleged disregard of judicial decisions on the issue. Citing the 2022 Karnataka High Court judgment on ‘Uniform Dress Code in Educational Institutions’, he said the Congress government has committed a “gross insult” to the judiciary by overturning an earlier court order.
Ashok said, “The High Court had emphasized that educational institutions should remain centers of discipline and equality and not grounds for religious demonstration.”
The BJP leader accused the Congress government of practicing “selective secularism”, saying it was discriminating against the saffron scarf by allowing hijab in educational institutions.
“In this (Karnataka) regime, under the guise of freedom, hijab is being given a green signal while saffron dupatta is immediately banned,” he alleged.
–IANS
OP/ABM