The decision of State government to withdraw 2022 order on uniforms and dress code in educational institutions, when the dispute regarding Hijab is pending before the Supreme Court, is contempt of court, said Karkala MLA and former Minister V. Sunil Kumar.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Kumar said withdrawal of the 2022 order and replacing it with fresh order to allow students to wear ‘limited’ traditional and faith-based symbols, along with prescribed school and college uniform, was another attempt to appease Muslim community.

To overcome the pain for the antipathy towards the party during byelections to Davangere Assembly constituency, the Congress government was continuing with steps to appease Muslim community. It decided to sanction a huge amount for development works in Muslim colonies. By allowing Hijab with a fresh order, the government has totally changed the fundamental basis of uniform. The government was attempting to spoil the social harmony in campuses by fostering communal differences, Mr. Sunil Kumar said.

Questioning the government’s action to divide students on communal lines to appease a community, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath accused Congress party of continuing with the policy of divide and rule. For appeasing a community, the Congress government has sidelined the constitution and country’s unity.

Mangaluru City North MLA Y. Bharath Shetty said the BJP government passed the 2022 order to remove communal differences among students and foster solidarity. By removing the 2022 order, the Congress government has caused irreparable damage to the education system, Mr. Shetty said.

VHP Karnataka Pranta Joint Secretary Sharan Pumpwell said government has done an unpardonable act of fostering communal differences in schools and colleges. By allowing students to wear ‘limited’ traditional and faith-based symbols with uniform, the government has ended disciplined education system in the State. VHP, Bajarang Dal and Durgavahini will support youth’s protest against government’s decision, he said.

Welcoming the action of the State government, former mayor and president of Dakshina Kannada District Muslim Okkoota, K. Ashraf, said Hijab was the right of Muslim students and none can take it away. Leader of Opposition R. Ashok should understand that Muslim community will not allow anybody to take away right of Muslim girls to sport Hijab, he said.