Hijab hearing: ‘What about ghoonghat, turbans, cross?’

Bengaluru: Contending that Indians flaunt diverse religious symbols — ghoonghat, turbans, cross — the Muslim girls fighting the hijab ban in educational institutions in Karnataka, on Wednesday asked why the government was ‘picking’ on the headscarf alone and making “this hostile discrimination.” The contention was made before a three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court which is now hearing their petitions challenging the ban on hijab in classrooms. Prescribing uniforms in preuniversity colleges is illegal, they said, adding the College Development Committee (CDC) headed by the MLA concerned has no powers to decide on the issue.

Citing a survey, the petitioner girls’ counsel Ravi Varma Kumar said: “I am only showing the vast diversity of religious symbols in all sections of society. Why is the government picking on hijab alone and making this hostile discrimination? Aren’t bangles religious symbols?” Kumar wondered. “This discrimination against Muslim girls is purely on the basis of religion and hence a hostile discrimination, which violates Article 15 of the Indian Constitution. We are not heard but straightaway punished. This is draconian.”