CPI (M) Karnataka state committee, in a statement issued on February 10, 2022, has condemned the unnecessary controversy of ‘hijab and saffron shawl’ which started in a college in Udupi and has created a communal divide among students in educational institutions across the state. It has urged the state government to make sincere efforts to stop it.

Communal organisations are responsible for this controversy and present state of affairs in the state. Intentional division among students is created as state government is feeding them, the statement said.

Some students wearing hijab as part of their uniform has been in practice. Girl students wearing hijab has been a practice in several educational institutions. Some of them were prescribed the color of hijab as per the color of their uniforms whereby it does not violate the general uniform code.

Some Hindu communal organisations are instigating Hindu students to wear saffron shawls against the Muslim girls wearing hijab to divide students on communal lines and to deny education to minority girls.

At the same time some Muslim extremist organisations are attempting to consolidate Muslims on communal lines utilising the apprehensions among the Muslims created by the Hindu communal forces and the state BJP government.

The BJP government in the state is abetting the communal forces by enabling rules against the constitution. Some ministers and legislators are giving instigating statements which strengthen the communal divide among the students and hamper harmony, which is condemnable. All these attitudes have to be curbed immediately.

Normally it is difficult for the girl students of weaker sections particularly Muslim girl students to get education.  They come to schools and colleges under several restrictions. It is essential to create a conducive atmosphere and positive attitude among all students in favour of them. So the communalisation of hijab issue should be defeated.

The policies of the state and union governments run by the BJP are creating serious unrest among the masses.

Several issues like – the pro-corporate policies of the union  government’s  anti-farmer and anti-worker budget, anti-farmer, anti-agriculture farm laws, anti-worker labour codes, anti-dalit, anti-minorities and anti-people culture, new education policies, handing over of government land to the Hindutva forces and corporates , price rise, unemployment, corruption, rejection of Narayan Guru tabloid etc – have created unrest among the masses. Hence this hijab-saffron shawl issues are raised to divert the attention of masses from such issues of people. The state government’s divisive rule has created the present dangerous situation. The instigation of students to communal violence is pushing their education and future to peril. Further law and order problems are also created.

The BJP government which has given a call for beti padao beti bachao must stop its actions of curtailing the education right of Muslim minority students.

In this background, the BJP government should stop its divisive communal policies and must initiate steps for harmony between students and in educational institutions and among the people in general. Strict action should be taken against Bajrang Dal and other organisations and individuals who are instigating students to violence. Action should be initiated against those police officers who did not give protection to the minority students and supported attacks on them. The family of the student who was killed in the violence must be paid a compensation of Rs10 lakhs. Schools and colleges should be started without giving scope for violence in the state.

The BJP state government has failed to uphold law and order in the state.  State home minister is solely responsible for this. Hence he should resign or else he should be dropped from the cabinet.

CPI (M) appeals the students, educational institutions and people to maintain peace and to isolate the communal forces.

CPI (M) has given call to hold protests throughout the state on February 11 urging the resignation of the home minister and opposing the state government’s failure in upholding law and order and demanding proactive steps to maintain peace and harmony in the state.