VHP Calls Karnataka Govt Order on Hijab, Religious Symbols ‘Appeasement Politics’

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday strongly opposed the Karnataka government’s decision allowing students to wear the hijab and other religious symbols such as sacred thread, Shivadhara and Rudraksha in educational institutions, and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order.

The fresh government order, issued after scrapping the previous BJP-era restriction, has reignited the hijab dress code controversy in the state. The earlier 2022 order had barred religious attire in government schools, triggering protests and a prolonged legal battle over the question of uniforms versus religious expression in classrooms.

The VHP alleged that the new decision amounts to “ appeasement politics ” and undermines the statutory framework governing school discipline. It cited Section 133(2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, and Rule 11 of the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Classification, Regulation and Prescription of Curricula, etc.) Rules, 1995, stating that institutions are empowered to prescribe uniforms to ensure discipline, uniformity and secular character in schools.

The organisation argued that educational spaces must remain free from visible religious symbols , warning that allowing individual religious practices in classrooms could lead to segregation among students and administrative uncertainty .

The issue traces back to the 2022 hijab versus saffron shawl controversy, following which the state government had imposed restrictions on religious attire. The matter was challenged before the Karnataka High Court , which upheld the government’s uniform policy. The ruling was later repealed and is currently pending before the Supreme Court , keeping the issue sub judice.

The VHP further said the reversal of the earlier order weakens established legal and constitutional principles of secularism in public education , and equating different religious symbols in schools is inappropriate.