Hijab row: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai appeals for peace, restraint

State government declares holiday for educational institutions for three days

As the hijab row intensified further in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday appealed to the Opposition and the people concerned not to escalate the situation by making "provocative" statements and to wait for the High Court order.

The state government is going by the law on dress code and the same stand has been put before the court, he said.

"Let's wait for the judiciary's decision and we will abide by whatever it says," he added.

The chief minister also said that the Karnataka government has declared a holiday in high schools and colleges in the state for the next three days to maintain law and order.

Replying to queries from reporters here, Bommai said there were some disturbances in a few places and appealed for peace and harmony.

"I appeal to students to maintain peace and there is no occasion for any clashes. I appeal to teachers to ensure peace is maintained. I am asking concerned people not to make provocative statements and aggravate the situation because it is a every sensitive issue as far as students are concerned," he said.

Students have to sit together and do academic activities. Therefore, peace and harmony should be maintained, he said and asked teachers and management of schools and colleges to maintain peace.

Tension had prevailed at some educational institutions in Udupi, Shivamogga, Bagalkote and other parts of the state as they were rocked by protests for and against hijab today, forcing the police and administration to intervene.

The Karnataka High Court today heard petitions filed by five girls studying in a Government Pre-university College in Udupi, questioning hijab restriction in college and the matter has been posted for Wednesday.

The protest over dress code started in one school and has spread to other districts.

"It is very unfortunate. The matter is seized by the high court. As I speak now, the high court proceedings on this matter are going on... We are waiting for the directions from the court," he said.

Similar situations were witnessed in other states and different high courts have given different judgements. "Our matter is also in the HC," he said.

As far as the legality of the whole issue is concerned, the state government has put its case clearly as per the Karnataka Education Act, he said and added: "Let us wait for the direction from the high court, till that time the peace needs to be maintained. I appeal to everyone."

On opposition parties in Parliament raising the hijab row and accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of polarisation, the chief minister said, "These are all allegations and do not have any ground." Proper education has to be given to students in the state. The state government is going by the law on dress code, he said.

Bommai, on the second day of his visit to the national capital, met Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and requested him to give production-linked incentives for toy and fast moving consumer goods industries in the state.

He also spoke to BJP national President J P Nadda about the state issue over the phone. "Naddaji has said he will speak to me after two days," Bommai added.