India today reacted sharply to the comments Emanating from some countries on the hijab controversy in the southern state of Karnataka and said "motivated comments" on its internal issues "are not welcome".
In response to media queries on India's reaction to comments by some countries on the dress code at some educational institutions in Karnataka, India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "A matter regarding dress code in some educational institutions in the state of Karnataka is under judicial examination by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka."
"Our constitutional framework and mechanisms, as well as our democratic ethos and polity, are the context in which issues are considered and resolved. Those who know India well would have a proper appreciation of these realities. Motivated comments on our internal issues are not welcome," he said.
Yesterday, the US Ambassador At Large for International Religious Freedom had said Karnataka should not ban hijab in schools as it "violates religious freedom", reports our New Delhi correspondent.
"Religious freedom includes the ability to choose one's religious attire. The Indian state of Karnataka should not determine permissibility of religious clothing. Hijab bans in schools violate religious freedom and stigmatize and marginalize women and girls," the diplomat had tweeted.
Protests over the hijab issue spread beyond Karnataka's educational institutions to other cities like Aligarh, Hyderabad and Vijayawada on Friday while a controversy erupted at a private college in Jaipur district of Rajasthan state when some girls insisted on attending classes in burqa and cops had to be called to resolve the matter, PTI reported.
The closure announced of universities belonging to the department of Higher Education and colleges under the Karnataka Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), in the wake of the hijab row, has been extended till February 16, the state government said on Friday. However, examinations will be held as scheduled.
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