News Reading Practice #32
(100 Day Challenge)
KARNATAKA IS SET TO REVOKE BAN ON HIJAB IN
CLASSROOMS
The previous BJP government banned wearing hijab
in educational institutions; Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says matters pertaining to food habits and dress
are a matter of personal choice
The Hindu Bureau
MYSURU
In a significant move, Karnataka government is set to revoke the contentious order banning hijab in
classrooms, which was passed by the previous BJP government and later led to a
legal battle.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who alluded to the hijab issue at a
programme in Nanjangud in Mysuru district on Friday, announced that he had
asked for withdrawal of
the hijab order. "We will withdraw the hijab circular and there is no
restriction and people can wear the dress of their choice," he said.
The previous BJP government had banned wearing
hijab in educational institutions. The Department of Primary and Secondary
Education had issued a circular banning hijab in schools and PU colleges which
resulted in a political furore. There were protests for and against the move across the
State.
Petitions were filed
against the order in the Karnataka High
Court in 2022, which ruled in favour of the State's circular and said that
students in educational institutions should only wear prescribed uniforms, and where no
code was prescribed, they should wear "such attire that would accord with
equality and integrity and
would not disrupt
public order." They held that the wearing of hijab was not an essential religious practice.
Later in the year, the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the issue, and the case is
now pending before a larger Bench.
Elaborating on the issue
at the event in Nanjangud, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that matters pertaining to
food habits and dress are personal. "I wear a dhoti and someone else may
wear pants and shirt. What is wrong in it?" questioned the Chief Minister
and said that one should not politicise such issues for political gains.
Though the Congress had hinted that it would revoke the ban
if voted to power in the run-up to the elections, it was the first time that
the Chief Minister has said in public that the ban was being revoked.
Mr. Siddaramaiah was speaking in Nanjangud after
inaugurating three police stations at Kavalande, Antharsante, and Jayapura.
Later, on his social media handle, he also said that Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's dictum of
"Sabka saath, sabka vikas" was hollow.
BJP response
In a quick response, the BJP in its social media
handle said the Chief Minister was "trying to sow the poison of religious bigotry in a harmonious society." It argued
that uniform ensures equality among students. The Chief Minister is
"creating divisions," the party alleged.
Contentious
order: The previous BJP government's order banning the wearing of hijab in
educational institutions had resulted in a political furore.
REVOKE: To officially cancel or
withdraw, often referring to a decision, law, or privilege. (തള്à´³ിà´•്കളയുà´•)
PERTAINING: Relating to or having
a connection with; relevant to. (à´¸ംബന്à´§ിà´š്à´šിà´°ിà´•്à´•ുà´•)
SIGNIFICANT: Having importance,
influence, or meaning; noteworthy. (à´ª്à´°à´§ാനമാà´¯)
CONTENTIOUS: Causing disagreement
or argument; controversial. (à´µിà´µാദപൂർണ്ണമാà´¯)
ALLUDED: Indirectly referred to
or hinted at without explicitly stating. (à´¨ിർദ്à´¦േà´¶ിà´•്à´•ുà´•)
WITHDRAWAL: The act of taking
back or removing; the process of retreating or pulling back. (à´ªിൻവലിà´•്കൽ)
POLITICAL FURORE: Intense and
public uproar or controversy related to political matters. (ഉഗ്à´° à´°ോà´·ം)
PETITIONS: Formal requests or
appeals, often signed by many people, seeking a specific action or change. (à´…à´ªേà´•്à´·)
PRESCRIBED: Recommended or set
according to a prescription, rule, or guideline. (à´¨ിർദ്à´¦േà´¶ിà´•്à´•ുà´•)
INTEGRITY: The quality of being
honest, truthful, and having strong moral principles. (സത്യസന്ധത)
DISRUPT: To interrupt or cause
disorder, often by breaking the normal course of something. (തടസ്സപ്à´ªെà´Ÿുà´¤്à´¤ുà´•)
ESSENTIAL: Absolutely necessary
or crucial; fundamental. (à´…à´¤്à´¯ാവശ്യമാà´¯)
ELABORATING: Providing more
detailed information or explanation on a particular topic. (à´µിശദമാà´¯)
POLITICISE: To make something
political or involve it in political activities. (à´°ാà´·്à´Ÿ്à´°ീയവൽക്à´•à´°ിà´•്à´•ുà´•)
HINTED: Suggested or indicated
indirectly; dropped a subtle suggestion. (à´¸ൂചനകൊà´Ÿുà´•്à´•ുà´•)
DICTUM: A formal statement or
remark expressing an important principle or observation. (à´…à´§ിà´•ാà´°à´ªൂർവ്വമാà´¯
à´…à´ിà´ª്à´°ാà´¯ം)
HOLLOW: Having an empty space
inside; lacking sincerity or depth. (à´ªൊà´³്ളയാà´¯)
SOW: To plant seeds; to introduce
or spread something gradually.
BIGOTRY: Intolerance or
prejudice, especially regarding one's beliefs or opinions. (à´Žà´¤ിà´°à´ിà´ª്à´°ാà´¯ം)
HARMONIOUS: Marked by agreement,
balance, and a pleasing combination of elements. (à´¯ോà´œിà´ª്à´ªുà´³്à´³)
