THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in a statement issued on February 9, has strongly condemned the failure of the Karnataka state government to protect the rights of Muslim girl students. It is unacceptable that these students are being denied their right to education because of wearing the hijab, it said.

It is shocking that the state government has irresponsibly stood by watching the issue spiral in the state without intervening proactively to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect the right to education of Muslim girls. Instead the state government re-issued an order banning clothes which “disturb equality, integrity and public order”. The government invoked 133(2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 which stated that students must wear the dress chosen by the College Development Committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of pre-university colleges, which come under the pre-university education department. And in case a uniform was not selected, “clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order should not be worn”.

Muslim girl students have been wearing the hijab and attending classes in Karnataka. This controversy has been deliberately raked up in the attempt to target and intimidate the minority community. Mobs of aggressive young boys wearing saffron scarves and shouting Jai Sri Ram exposes the hideous agenda of the communal forces. “Public order” is being vitiated by the hooligans promoted by the saffron brigade and not by the girls wearing hijab.

It is a violation of the fundamental constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion under Article 25, the Right to Education under Article 21-A and the Right to Dignity under Article 21. Likewise, Articles 15(1) and 15(2) do not allow any discrimination on the basis of birth place, religion, gender, caste and so on and says that no one should be stopped from entering public places. Article 29(2) does not allow discrimination on the basis of religion in state government aided institutions. The right to education is a fundamental right and must be protected without any compromises.

Due to the recent developments in Karnataka, all these rights are being denied to Muslim girl students. The Karnataka High Court will be hearing the petitions filed by five girl students of the Udipi Government Pre-University College on restricting the hijab.

As is our experience, the BJP and the saffron brigade led by the RSS have always used communal mobilisations and politics of hatred to further its agenda of targeting the minorities. This has created an unprecedented situation of tensions amongst the student community in Karnataka just on the eve of their annual examinations.

The state government should not change any rules and laws arbitrarily causing a harrowing situation for the students at the fag-end of the academic year causing disruption in their studies and especially adversely impact the educational opportunities of Muslim girls.

AIDWA demands an immediate stop to the hounding of Muslim girl students in Karnataka. The state government must ensure all protection to the Muslim girls and help them in being able to attend their classes in the colleges. All Muslim girls must be allowed to continue their education irrespective of the wearing of the hijab.

Communal and fundamentalist forces of whatever colour must not be allowed to divide the student community and should be prevented from vitiating the secular atmosphere in educational institutions. Anti-social elements trying to foment trouble in educational institutions must be dealt with a firm hand. BJP leaders and ministers should stop giving provocative statements to disturb communal harmony.

The AIDWA also appeals to all students, both boys and girls irrespective of their faith to remain united and defeat the nefarious designs of the saffron brigade.