BENGALURU: Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday afternoon, at the legislative assembly, urged the state government to allow the Muslim girls to wear "dupattas" and attend their examinations to ensure that they do not lose an academic year.
At the assembly, while debating on the law and order situation in the state, Siddaramaiah said that on Wednesday evening several Muslim clergymen met him along with a few minority legislators to impress upon him the need for the children to attend their exams, while at the same time not compromising on their faith.
"This is a suggestion which came from the clergymen, that the girls will wear uniforms but allow them to wear dupattas. Burqa is different, Hijab is different and Dupattas are different. As far as I understand this will be within the courts rulings. I would urge the government to allow this in order to ensure that the women get their education and do not violate their fundamental right," said Siddaramaiah.
However, responding to the suggestion, primary and secondary education minister B C Nagesh sarcastically suggested that perhaps the opposition leader must personally make an appeal to the girls who refuse to attend the classes by accepting the uniform as approved by the HC.
Siddaramaiah said the suggestion came in the wake of a lot of anxiety over women studying in minority institutions being forced out of the examination centres which will be outside their educational institutions.
"In a lot of minority institutions where the rules of the uniform do not apply, their examination centres are located elsewhere. But if the government does not allow the dupattas then they will be denied their right to education," he said, adding that the government must speak to the clergymen and give its assent.
The government did not provide any response in this regard.
