Last week, following the hijab row protests and violence, the Karnataka Government declared a holiday for high schools and colleges for three days starting from Feb 9.
Today, the state is reopening schools for children up to class 10. However, opening pre-university and degree colleges will be considered only after assessing the situation.
The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, is confident that schools will function peacefully. He has asked the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Deputy Director of Public Instructions to hold peace meetings with parents and teachers at important schools. He also warned that trouble makers would face legal action.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has slated the case for hearing today. Earlier, in its interim order, the court had asked students to refrain from wearing religious attire to educational institutions with a prescribed uniform or dress code until its final verdict.
The Udupi District Administration has placed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC from Feb 14-19 in areas near high schools to maintain vigil. In addition, the administration has categorized schools as ‘hypersensitive, sensitive, and normal’ under station limits. Though the Belagavi district has not issued any prohibitory orders, the local administration and educational officials have held preparatory meetings.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted on Sunday that a woman wearing a hijab will become the country’s prime minister one day. Speaking on the same issue, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehabooba Mufti said she would fight tooth and nail in support of hijab in educational institutions.
Down south, the Governer of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, said the hijab is not integral to Islam. Unlike turban for the Sikhs, Hijab is not a stipulated dress code for women in Kuran. However, Ramakrishna Ashram’s Karwar’s Swami Bhaveshanand has termed the debate on Muslim girls’ dress code unnecessary.