Karnataka Government to Revoke Ban on Hijab, CM Siddaramaiah Affirms Freedom of Choice

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Friday announced its intention to lift the ban on wearing hijab. Emphasizing the individual’s right to choose their attire, the Chief Minister stated that there was no effective hijab ban in the state, and women were free to “wear anything they want.”

Addressing a gathering in Mysore, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared the withdrawal of the hijab ban, stating, “Hijab ban isn’t there anymore. (Women) can wear hijab and go anywhere. I have directed to withdraw the (ban) order. How you dress and what you eat is your choice. Why should I obstruct you?”

Highlighting the principles of freedom, Siddaramaiah asserted that people in the state were at liberty to wear and eat according to their preferences. He said, “Wear what you want. Eat what you want. I will eat what I want, you eat what you want. I wear dhoti, you wear pant shirt. What’s wrong in that?”

The controversy surrounding the hijab ban was initiated by the BJP government, led by Chief Minister B Bommai, which imposed restrictions on head coverings in educational institutes in the state. This decision led to months of debate, culminating in the Karnataka High Court upholding the ban. The court deemed wearing a hijab “not an essential religious practice of Islam” and emphasized the adherence to uniform dress rules in prescribed educational institutions.