Amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday criticized the opposition parties for misguiding Muslim women on their individual rights and accused them of impeding their empowerment.
“Our government stands with 'Har Majloom (every victim Muslim woman)'. Those people (opposition parties) are trying to trick Muslim sisters to push them back in their lives,” PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
“BJP government freed Muslim women from triple talaq. When Muslim women started openly supporting Modi government, opponents got anxious. But we stand with every Muslim woman,” he added. He was highlighting the record of the Yogi government in terms of women security in Uttar Pradesh.
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The hijab row began in Udupi, Karnataka last month when a few female Muslim students were denied permission to attend classed wearing hijab. The matter is currently sub-judice in the Karnataka High Court. Yesterday, the High Court passed an interim order to ban religious symbols such as hijab in classrooms. “We want to make an interim order on the matter of hijab row. Peace has to return to the state. Schools and colleges must open soon. This is not the final order. Until the final order is given, students must attend the schools in uniform without hijab or saffron shawls," Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who is heading a three-judge bench hearing the issue.
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The petitioner approached the Supreme Court of India today who asked them to wait until a final order on the issue is passed by the Karnataka High Court. “Why should we jump in at this stage? It does not look nice… Let HC hear it first,” said India’s top court. The court further asked the petitioners not to make the issue national. “We know what is happening in the state and are aware of the hearings before the HC. Is it proper to bring the issue to the national level at this stage? We will interfere, if the need be, at an appropriate stage,” Chief Justice of India NV Ramana observed.
The hearing in the Karnataka High Court will resume on Monday.
