Bengaluru: Amidst the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka, Congress MLA Kaniz Fatima along with her proposers staged a protest outside the Kalaburagi district magistrate's office on Saturday. The state education administration has demanded a ban on wearing hijab by Muslim school students. Explaining the reason for this, the administration said that it disturbs the harmony, so the uniform guidelines should be strictly enforced.
Talking to the reporters, Fatima said that she also wears a hijab in the assembly. Fatima challenged the state government, saying that the government should stop wearing the hijab. Fatima said, "We are ready to change the colour of the hijab and mix it with the colour of the uniform, but we cannot stop wearing it. I also wear a hijab in the assembly. If the government can stop me, they should stop me from doing so."
Fatima, who represents Gulbarga (North) constituency in the Karnataka Assembly, has also alleged that the students are being harassed continuously by the state education administration. Fatima said, "They (students) are being denied admission in schools. That too at a time when only two months are left in the annual exams. People of all castes and religions have gathered at the DC office, Kalburgi to protest against this," Congress MLA said, adding that a memorandum will be submitted to state CM Basavaraj Bommai on the issue and later a protest will be held in Udupi as well. Fatima said, "Till now everyone used to wear it (hijab). It's too late now. Why are they suddenly stopping us? Burqa-hijab is nothing new." On Saturday, the Karnataka education department issued an order saying, "All schools will have to follow the uniforms fixed by the state government. Students of individual institutions will also have to follow the dress code decided by their respective managements.
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