Onus of maintaining peace, harmony lies on Bommai govt: Cong

New Delhi: After the Karnataka High Court dismissed petitions challenging the state government’s restriction on wearing of hijab in schools and colleges, the Congress on Tuesday said the onus of ensuring education of the girl child and maintaining peace and harmony lies on the BJP government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai.

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Karnataka government should ensure that none is allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in schools and colleges and peace is not sacrificed for BJP’s agenda of polarisation on communal lines. He said the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and all should await its verdict.

“Post judgement of Karnataka High Court, the onus of ensuring education of the girl child and maintaining peace and harmony in educational institutions remains the responsibility of Bommai Government. The issue is pending in Supreme Court and everyone should await the verdict,” he said on Twitter.

“Karnataka Government has to ensure - No person or religious group, be it the Bajrang Dal or SDPI or PFI, be permitted to vitiate the environment of Schools and Colleges in Karnataka. Initiate steps for attendance of girl child in schools and colleges, irrespective of religion.

“Karnataka Government has to recognise that - ‘Dharma’ of imparting scientific and moder n education to all children isn’t abandoned at the altar of political expediency. Peaceful atmosphere and communal amity is not sacrificed for BJP’s agenda of polarising the State on communal lines,” Surjewala also said.

Karnakata Congress president DK Shivakumar said his greatest concern in the hijab controversy is education, and law and order. “The Karnataka High Court has given a judgement but the responsibility for education, law and order and communal harmony is still with the government of Karnataka.

“ I appeal to the Government of Karnataka to show mature leadership and ensure that law and order is maintained in and around schools and colleges. That the education of students is not hampered, regardless of religion and gender. That there is communal harmony,” Shivakumar said. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said that she fails to understand how, wearing a hijab (scarf over the head) violates the uniform of a school / college. - PTI