MP Minister Backtracks on 'Hijab Ban' After Home Minister Rules Out Uniform Code

New Delhi: After Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra on Wednesday, February 9, said that there was no plan to ban hijabs in the state, state school education minister Inder Singh Parmar, who had called for a hijab ban on Monday, was forced to backtrack.

"There is no controversy over the hijab in Madhya Pradesh. No proposal is under consideration by the state government regarding the hijab ban. So, there should be no confusion in this regard," Mishra said on Wednesday.

Thereafter, Parmar claimed that his words had been "misinterpreted” and that there would not be any “new uniform code” in the state.

The controversy surrounding the hijab had erupted after six hijab-wearing Muslim students were barred from attending classes at the Government Women’s Pre-University (PU) college in Udupi from December 31, 2021.

Thereafter, students belonging to right-wing groups donned saffron scarves to protest against the Muslim students wearing the hijab in the classroom. Videos of hijab-clad Muslim students being harassed on their way to college and classrooms being invaded with saffron-clad youths also went viral on social media. 

Also read: Karnataka Hijab Row: Now, School Students in Saffron Scarves Chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in Protest

Education minister's original statement

Saying "hijabs should be banned," Parmar on Monday said he supported the crackdown on the hijab, saying the public authority will give preference to discipline.

“A uniform dress code will be implemented in the coming days. Our sons and daughters should abide by the school uniform while coming to schools and only then will there be any discipline,” he had said on Monday.

Karnataka Hijab row seems to have reached another BJP ruled state MP now. MP's school education minister IS Parmar says govt working on dress code for schools from next session to infuse spirit of equality-discipline among students. @NewIndianXpress @gsvasu_TNIE @khogensingh1 pic.twitter.com/vHytUi31m6

— Anuraag Singh (@anuraag_niebpl) February 8, 2022

“There is no objection to people wearing the hijab while stepping out of their homes. But in schools, there should be a sense of equality and so, a uniform dress code is required,” Parmar added. When asked if hijabs will be banned in schools of the state, the minister said if need be, a decision will be taken after examining the issue.

Parmar's statements came as Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in the state for three days as students took to the streets to protest PU college's decision.

On February 8, the Karnataka high court began hearing the petitions filed by the students. However, on February 9, the single-judge bench of Justice Krishna S. Dixit referred the case to Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi to constitute a larger bench to hear the matter.

This larger bench, comprising Chief Justice Awasthi, Justice Dixit and Justice Khazi Jaibunnisa Mohiuddin, will begin hearing the batch of five petitions, filed by 18 students.

Also read: Hindutva Bigotry Lies Behind the Attack on Hijab-Clad Students in Karnataka

Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafiz had criticised Parmar’s comments by questioning his priorities. "The minister needs to tell us what is his priority: Working on the proper functioning of schools amid Covid and improving quality of education by filling vacancies in government schools or pursuing the agenda of communal divide," Hafiz had said.

"Our country's constitution has granted every citizen the right to practice his/her religion but the BJP government is trying to deprive even school-going children of their religious practices. Turban wearing by Sikhs and wearing of Hijab by Muslim women has been going on for decades. But this government wants to put an end to these age-old traditions, which speaks volumes about the mental bankruptcy of those presently in power," he had added.

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