Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been expelled from the BJP, has said that he is opposed to the Congress government’s decision to allow hijab in schools and colleges and that he will launch a movement to counter it by asking students to wear saffron shawls and tilak to school.

“If hijab is allowed, I will send children wearing saffron shawls to schools and colleges. Henceforth, whenever teachers call out attendance, students will respond with a Jai Sri Ram in classrooms. This is how we will protest against the State government decision,” he told reporters in Vijayapura on Sunday.

He said that he will welcome the fuel price hike effected by the Union government. The hike has become essential due to the Iran war and other such developments. The Prime Minister has increased the prices in the interest of the country.

“When the UPA was in power at the Centre and the BJP was running Karnataka, Siddaramaiah had said that if he were to be the Chief Minister, he would lower fuel prices even if they were hiked by the Centre. Now, that he is the Chief Minister, I challenge him to keep his promise,” Mr. Yatnal said.