Hijab order sparks political storm in Karnataka; BJP, Hindu groups accuse Congress of appeasement

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government’s decision to allow students to wear hijab and other religious symbols in schools and colleges has triggered a major political controversy across the state, with the opposition BJP and several Hindu organisations accusing the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of indulging in “appeasement politics.”

The state government on Tuesday officially withdrew the 2022 order issued during the BJP regime that had effectively prohibited hijab inside educational institutions. Under the revised guidelines, students will now be allowed to wear religious and traditional symbols such as hijab, janivara, shivadhara, rudraksha and turban along with prescribed school uniforms.

The move has once again pushed the sensitive hijab issue to the forefront of Karnataka politics.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that the decision was politically motivated and aimed at pacifying minority voters after recent political setbacks.

“The Congress government is rattled by the anger within its minority vote bank after the Davanagere bypoll developments. To save its collapsing vote bank, it has once again brought back the hijab controversy,” Ashok alleged.

He further accused the government of ignoring key governance issues while focusing on religious matters for political gain.

“People are suffering due to price rise, corruption, farmer suicides and law-and-order failure. But instead of addressing these issues, the government has suddenly become active only to appease one community,” he said.

Ashok also questioned the government over the earlier Karnataka High Court ruling that had upheld the uniform dress code introduced during the BJP government.

“In 2022, the High Court clearly upheld the dress code and emphasised that educational institutions must remain centres of discipline and equality. By reversing that policy, the Congress government is disrespecting judicial spirit and encouraging division inside classrooms,” he charged.

The BJP leader further alleged that the government was adopting “selective secularism.”

“The Siddaramaiah government has shown a green signal to hijab but opposes saffron shawls. What kind of secularism is this?” he asked.

Reacting strongly to the development, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik announced statewide protests against the order.

“We will symbolically tear copies of the government order across Karnataka tomorrow. We are also discussing filing a PIL before the High Court challenging this decision,” Muthalik said.

He alleged that the order would create divisions among students based on religion.

“Schools and colleges should promote equality and unity. Once students come wearing hijab, religious identity becomes visible. This government does not want harmony; it wants division,” he alleged.

MLC C.T. Ravi also criticised the government, arguing that school uniforms were introduced decades ago precisely to eliminate visible social and religious differences among students.

“Uniforms were made compulsory so that no child feels different inside classrooms. If religious symbols are now allowed, then the government must clarify whether these symbols are part of the uniform or outside it,” Ravi questioned.

He further sought clarity on whether saffron-coloured attire would also be permitted if the government was allowing hijab under the revised rules.

“If saffron is not allowed but hijab is permitted, then what message is the government sending?” he asked.

The hijab controversy first erupted in 2022 at a government PU college in Udupi after Muslim students wearing hijab were denied entry into classrooms. The issue later escalated statewide after Hindu students began wearing saffron shawls in protest, turning the matter into a national political debate.

While the Congress government has defended the latest order as a move aimed at protecting students’ educational rights and constitutional freedoms, critics argue that allowing visible religious attire inside classrooms could weaken the concept of uniformity and equality in educational institutions.

The revised order has now intensified political confrontation in Karnataka, with both ruling and opposition parties preparing for a prolonged battle over one of the state’s most sensitive socio-political issues.

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