Bengaluru, May 24 (). The new Congress government in Karnataka is all set to lift the ban on hijab in the state. Sources gave this information on Wednesday.
As per media reports, the new government is waiting to complete the cabinet expansion. While campaigning for the May 10 assembly polls, the Congress, particularly Congress leader DK Shivakumar, had said that after the party came to power in the state, the hijab ban and all laws made on communal lines by the previous BJP government should be withdrawn. Will be taken
Asked about Amnesty International’s growing concern over the hijab ban in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said in the Assembly on Wednesday, “I don’t want to comment on the hijab issue as it is a policy matter.”
However, cabinet minister Priyank Kharge, while addressing reporters, said that the Congress would withdraw the ban on hijab, halal cut and cow slaughter laws.
Sources claimed that the party is all set to roll back these laws, including the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous BJP government. A decision will be taken soon on the construction of a 114-feet tall Christ statue at Kapalbetta near Kanakapura town.
The hijab controversy, started by six girl students of the Udupi Pre-University Girls’ College, had become a crisis in the state last year. The female students who refused to attend classes without hijab still say they will wait for the final decision of the Supreme Court.
The issue had taken a communal color and resulted in revenge killings in the state. The issue had caught the attention of the global terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. It is alleged that the ruling BJP used the issue to further its Hindutva agenda, which markedly divided the society, especially the student community.
Sources say that the Congress is treading cautiously in this matter as the party is moving ahead with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party does not want to give any issue to BJP.
But, some party leaders are of the opinion that a matter like the proposal to ban Bajrang Dal should be taken forward in the manifesto to work for the party. According to sources, a decision in this regard will be taken soon.
FZ/ANM
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