As a small relief from the controversy surrounding Muslim students’ rights to wear the hijab, Karnataka Education Minister MC Sudhakar has confirmed on Sunday that students would be permitted to write government examinations with their hijab on. The Minister encouraged people who were protesting to read the NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) guidelines, which acknowledge a students right to wear the hijab.
“People are trying to create controversy in the matter of writing exams while wearing Hijab. Some people are there just to create confusion. I have taken measures in view of everyone’s freedom. It is allowed to write the NEET exam wearing hijab,” Sudhakar said.
Pro-Hindu groups have promptly announced to protest against the order announced by Karnataka Higher Education Minister to which Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has responded on Monday by saying that ‘There is no question of compromise on the issue of protecting the harmony and secular heritage of Karnataka’, asserting again that hate politics will not be tolerated and the environment of fear would be eradicated. The Chief Minister, under oath completely disregarded the introduction of the New Education Policy (NEP) terming it an ‘adulteration’ to the education sector.
In an attempt to fill vacancies in the government sector, the Karnataka government has also announced ahead of recruitment examinations for government services to be held on October 28 and 29 that students could appear for recruitment examinations conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority wearing a hijab.
The announcement comes a year after the hijab ban was imposed in Karnataka in schools and colleges, that saw many female students drop out and discontinue their education amid violent clashes across the state.
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