Hijab for Muslims like Hindu's 'mangalsutra', Christian's crucifix, Sikh's turban: Congress MP in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: As the controversy over wearing 'hijab' on campus raged in Karnataka, Congress MP from Kerala TN Prathapan on Monday raised the issue in Lok Sabha, saying the garment of the Muslim women is like "mangalsutra for Hindus, the crucifix of the Christians and turbans for the Sikhs". He demanded the Union education minister's intervention in the matter.

The ‘hijab’ (scarf) row in Karnataka intensified as some students sought to defy the government order mandating uniform style of clothes. The matter will now be heard in the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday.

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"Girls are sitting outside classrooms and demanding their fundamental rights. The hijab is a part of their cultural and religious identity of these girls. It is like the mangalsutra for Hindus, crucifix for the Christians and turbans for the Sikhs," Prathapan said during Zero Hour. He also said that there is a tendency of some people in this country that if they see a Sikh with a turban protesting against the government, they will "call him a Khalistani". He said that if they see a person wearing a cross he will be "attacked". "If they see a Muslim girl wearing Hijab, they will stop them for getting education. Where are they taking our India? We cannot lose our diversity. I request the education minister to interfere in this issue to ensure the constitutional rights of these girls. That is real Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," he said.

Earlier in the day, state education minister BC Nagesh said students who insist on hijab-wearing will not be allowed into the government educational institutions. Then, he asked some students protesting on the street outside the college to sit in a separate room but they were not imparted lessons.

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Karnataka Hijab Ban: The hijab row is a conspiracy, says Karnataka Congress president

The controversy over wearing hijab in colleges is part of a conspiracy to poison the minds of the young people, Karnataka PCC president DK Shivakumar said on Monday. Addressing a press meet at the district Congress committee office here, he said the "hijab row is an insult to our country and against the tradition of the land." He said the coastal region has its own history, culture and human resources and is known as an educational hub. An attempt is being made to change the tradition and poison young minds by fuelling the hijab row. Instead of addressing several issues like unemployment and petrol price hike, sensitive issues like hijab-wearing are being raked up by vested interests.

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Shivakumar expressed the hope that the students will soon get justice on the hijab issue as all have faith in the constitution. On Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge Minister V Sunil Kumar’s statements on the row, Shivakumar said the minister has the responsibility to abide by the oath taken in the assembly. Earlier, talking to reporters at the airport here, he alleged the BJP is trying to create unrest among the students and public over the issue. He claimed that the saffron party has been following this line since its inception.