The intentions behind any actions or acts matter the most. The main intention behind the communal movement of “Pehle Hijab fir Kitab” was not to empower women or about women’s choices, it was to achieve targets of Political Islam and enforce Sharia laws.
These student protests for Hijab in educational institutions are nothing but attempts to stroke communal tensions and reap political benefit of communal violence that may ensue after it.
Hijab movement resurfaces: Coincidence or intentional attempt to mar the social fabric?
What will you say when a hot debate ends with an amicable solution and still someone rakes it up again? Will this not be a confrontational tactic? Instead of burying the hatchet and moving on the progressive path, the Islamists are once again initiating communal politics from the shoulders of young students. The Hijab row which marred Karnataka politics has again resurfaced. Evidently, a group of Muslim girls reached the college campus wearing the Islamic veil.
Read More: Supreme Court delivers a knockout to the pro Hijab activists
This was in clear contravention of the University advisory as just a day earlier the Mangalore University had issued an advisory making uniform mandatory. The Principal of University College, Anusuya Rai, tried to counsel the girls and convince them to attend classes without the headscarf. But seeing the adamant behaviour of the Muslim girls, the University had to sent them back. The Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai made it clear that the High Court and government order should be followed regarding the school/college uniforms. He also advised that the students should refrain from such issues and instead focus on their studies.
Stating that the issue has been closed after the syndicate meeting at Mangalore University, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai asked students to focus on education instead of getting into such issueshttps://t.co/1nR4dSPsKE
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 29, 2022
He said, “There is no need to create hijab controversy (again), the court has given its order, all have to abide by the court and the government’s order. Majority of them, about 99.99 per cent of them, are following it. The syndicate’s resolution is also that court order has to be followed. According to me, studies should be important for students”.
The Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya also made it clear that they will try to convince students and explain the High Court orders but if any students remain adamant than they will facilitate admission of such Muslim girl students in other institutions.
Karnataka High Court Verdict: A tight slap to the Radicals vitiating Educational Institutions
The Hijab row became a rally point for many Islamic organisations and was used for political gains. The government and the respective institutions tried to explain the rationale behind Uniform, but the students radicalised or motivated by communal politicians kept on demanding for communal attire in secular institutions. This was rightfully sorted out after the High Court order. The Karnataka High Court opined that Hijab is not an essential practice of Islam.
It observed that, “The Holy Quran does not mandate wearing Hijab or headgear for Muslim women. Hijab at most is a means to gain access to public places and not a religious end itself. At most, the practice of wearing this apparel may have something to do with culture but certainly not with religion.”
Read More: Hijab is not an essential practice of Islam: Karnataka High Court
The Court also explained the importance of uniform in educational institutions. It observed, “No reasonable mind can imagine a school without a uniform. Uniform is not a nascent origin. It is not that Mughals or Britishers brought it here. It has been there since the ancient Gurukul days. School uniforms promote harmony and Spirit of common brotherhood transcending religious or sectional diversities.”
Read More: Dear Indian liberals, you are effectively backing terrorism in the name of Hijab
It is disheartening to see that the communal matter of Hijab that should have ended after the court verdict is raked up again and again. Instead of taking the legal recourse the communal politicians are using young minds and defacing the secular credentials of educational institutions. But the decisions and the commitment of the government and educational institutions to not allow communalisation of these institutions should be a template to be followed in other such matters. The plain and simple decision of Mangalore University to enroll insisting Muslim girls in different institutions should be a clear warning for the Islamists as it will only hamper the education of their kids and their political intentions will never be fulfilled especially in secular educational institutions.