All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi continued his opposition over the ongoing hijab controversy, which has now reached the political corridors. During an election rally in Moradabad Owaisi criticised the state government's order banning hijab in schools and pre-university colleges.
He said, "If I can wear cap and go to Parliament, why can't a girl wear hijab and go to college?". His statement comes amid ongoing proceedings in the Karnataka High Court regarding the matter. His statement comes amid ongoing proceedings in the Karnataka High Court regarding the matter.
Commenting on Malala Yousufzai's tweet supporting hijab in schools, Owaisi said, "I would like to urge the Pakistani folk to not look this side. You have your own Balochistan fight going on among other many problems. This is India's internal matter, don't interfere. You don't understand Islam but we do".
Owaisi also got in touch with Muskan, the girl who was surrounded by some boys chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' wearing saffron scarves, while she wore a burkha. "Spoke to Muskan & her family on call. Prayed for her to remain steadfast in her commitment to education while also exercising her freedom of religion & choice. I conveyed that her act of fearlessness has become a source of courage for us all", Owaisi tweeted.
On Tuesday, he addressed a public rally in Sarai Tarin in UP, where he said, "I pray that our sisters fighting for their right to wear hijab are successful in their fight. Grave violations of the Constitution's Articles 15, 19 and 21 are being committed in Karnataka. I condemn this decision of Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government,".
Several protests have erupted in Karnataka after some students were allegedly denied entry to college wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women) on February 4. The students at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district alleged that they had been barred from attending classes.
Later on February 5, the Karnataka government mandated that only school uniforms will be allowed for students inside schools, and that private schools or pre-university colleges in the state, are free to decide school uniforms for its students. The pre-University education board also released an order saying no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.
Earlier on Tuesday, Minister of Higher Education Dr CN Ashwatha Narayana announced a three-day holiday in all the universities under the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE) in view of the Hijab row.
