Bengaluru, May 14 (PTI) BJP leaders in Karnataka on Thursday accused the Congress government of indulging in "appeasement politics" through its decision on allowing hijab in educational institutions, and alleged that the move would create communal divisions in schools and colleges.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear Hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara, Rudraksha in schools. The government scrapped the BJP government's order in 2022 banning Hijab in government schools following a Hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
Addressing reporters here, BJP Karnataka unit president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and MLC C T Ravi criticised the state government's stand on permitting hijab and accused it of pursuing minority appeasement at the cost of social harmony.
Vijayendra said the previous BJP government had earlier banned hijab but the incumbent Congress has shown that it will go to any extent to please minorities.
He alleged that the Congress government was neglecting development and insulting Hindus while pursuing appeasement politics.
He criticised the government for officially allowing hijab and said the statement made by the Education Minister was not right.
"Instead of focusing on the hundreds of important works that need to be done, the Congress government has taken up the task of creating divisions between Hindus and Muslims even in schools and colleges. In the coming days, the people of the state will answer this," he said.
The BJP leader further claimed that the state government was taking arbitrary decisions out of "arrogance and intoxication of power" and alleged that its decisions reflected a "conspiracy" to pit Hindus against Muslims and vice-versa.
Narayanaswamy alleged that the Congress was once again creating scope for conflict by permitting hijab after four years.
"With the case against the hijab ban still pending in the Supreme Court, the government has now hurriedly issued an order allowing hijab just to appease one community. This is a big mistake," he said.
He added that issuing such an order while the matter was before the court amounted to disrespect to the judiciary.
He charged that the Congress believed Muslims would side with the party if hijab was permitted and benefits were extended to them.
"These actions are only provoking the majority community against Muslims. In the process of appeasing minorities, you are actually causing problems for them," he said.
Narayanaswamy also accused the Congress of dividing communities and said all citizens were equal under the Constitution irrespective of religion.
Ravi questioned whether schools should have a dress code at all and criticised the government circular on religious symbols in educational institutions.
"The government has issued a circular permitting hijab, dragging in sacred thread and rudraksha as well, while banning saffron shawls," he alleged, while clarifying that the BJP was "not against hijab."
He said uniforms were introduced in schools to ensure equality among students regardless of religion or background.
"All children in schools are equal. Even if they belong to different religions and traditions, uniforms were introduced so that they identify themselves equally," he said.
Ravi accused the Congress government of continuing communal appeasement politics and claimed the decision would undermine the objective of school uniforms.
He also alleged that the government was following "double standard" by treating different religious practices unequally.