Responding to a criticism from US body of International Religious Freedom (IRF) over the hijab row in Karnataka, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said that “motivated comments on our internal issues are not welcome.”
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a statement said, “A matter regarding dress code in some educational institutions in the State of Karnataka is under judicial examination by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka. Our constitutional framework and mechanisms, as well as our democratic ethos and polity, are the context in which issues are considered and resolved.”
“Those who know India well would have a proper appreciation of these realities,” he said adding, “Motivated comments on our internal issues are not welcome.”
This comes a day after Rashad Hussain Ambassador-at-Large for IRF, showed solidarity with the Muslim girls who not allowed inside the college in Karnataka after they refused to take off their hijab.
On Friday, Hussain had said “religious freedom includes the ability to choose one’s religious attire.”
He tweeted, “The Indian state of Karnataka should not determine permissibility of religious clothing. Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatise and marginalise women and girls.”
The karnataka High Court on Friday, passing an interim order said that students should restrain from religious clothing within classrooms.
Due to escalating tensions in the state, the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government on Tuesday ordered the cloure of educational institutions for three days. Schools are students till class 10 will reopen from Monday.
