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Kochi, Oct 18 (IANS) Stepping into the growing hijab controversy in Palluruthy, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Saturday said the government will ensure that the affected girl student is admitted to a government school if her parents request.
“If the girl’s parents come to us, we will make arrangements to enroll her in any government school,” Sivankutty said.
Her comments come after the student’s family decided not to send their daughter back to St. Rita Public School following the recent controversy over wearing hijab.
The controversy erupted earlier this week when the school barred a Muslim girl from entering the campus wearing a hijab, citing a violation of its uniform code.
The family alleged that the school authorities mentally harassed the child, following which they complained to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister.
Sivankutty had earlier criticized the school management for “misleading the government” on an issue related to fundamental rights.
On Saturday he reiterated that the government will not tolerate actions that affect any student’s right to education.
Senior Indian Union Muslim League leader PK Kunhalikutty described the school management’s stance as a “reflection of growing intolerance”.
Kunhalikutty said, “It is wrong for one community to decide what members of another community should wear in school. This is an issue that should have been resolved through understanding, and not through draconian rules. If everything will be reduced to legal technicalities, it will only create more problems.”
He also criticized the school’s press conference on this matter and called it an example of intolerance.
He said, “Hijab is a small piece of cloth on a child’s head, no different from the veil worn by nuns. Unfortunately, a child’s education was disrupted because someone was afraid of hijab. Such things should not happen in Kerala.”
–IANS
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