Sashi Tharoor,"...there is no law banning religious forms..”

As Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was accused of politicizing the hijab debate in Karnataka schools, Congress leaders stated that there is no law in India banning religious wear. "...there is no law prohibiting religious forms of dress such as a Sikh turban, a crucifix around your neck, or a tilak on the forehead, all of which are prohibited in French government schools but permitted in Indian government schools," Tharoor responded to Mohandas Pai, former director of Infosys. Pai, who is currently the chairman of Manipal University, stated that all schools follow the same code in order to foster togetherness. People must petition if they want to wear something.

Pai's remark came in response to an inquiry from Shashi Tharoor on whether Sikh turbans, Christian crucifixes, and Hindu tilaks are similarly prohibited at educational institutions.

Tharoor tweeted, "It's been a strength of India that everyone is free to wear what they want. If the hijab is disallowed, what about the Sikh turban? The Hindu's forehead mark? The Christian's crucifix? This college is going down a slippery slope. Let the girls in. Let them study. Let THEM decide."

Here's the tweet of Sashi Tharoor which created a row

The hijab debate in Karnataka has escalated into a larger controversy, with many universities refusing to admit hijab-wearing students. On Thursday, Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra stated that no religious apparel, whether a hijab or a saffron shawl, will be permitted.

The home minister says, "Schools are the place where children belonging to all religions should learn together and imbibe a feeling that we are not different, and all are children of Bharat Mata."

When some pupils from a government pre-university college in Udupi showed up wearing hijab, it sparked a commotion. Following that, students from Kundapur PU Campus arrived at the college wearing a hijab and were stopped at the gate. As a contrast to the girls wearing hijabs, some 100 Hindu students wore saffron shawls to class on Wednesday.

The home minister says, "There are religious organisations who think otherwise, I have asked police to keep a watch on them. Those who cause hindrance or undermine this country's unity, they have to be dealt with."

Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has criticized the diktat, claiming that Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a false phrase.

Mufti says,  "Muslim girls are being denied the right to education simply because of their attire. Legitimising the marginalisation of Muslims is one more step towards converting Gandhi's India into Godse's India."

"Individuals are free to choose what to wear. You may or may not like their choice but that's a right we all have. If these public representatives can wear saffron robes, then these girls can use hijab. Muslims are not second-class citizens," Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of J&K, took to Twitter to express his displeasure.

Read more: http://arthparkash.com/english/asaduddin-owaisi-has-been-granted-z-category-protection-by-the-mha/