Karnataka BJP on Thursday said that the party would hold a protest if the government withheld the ‘Best Principal Award’ to the Kundapur Government Pre-University College principal who did not allow female students wearing hijab to enter the college.
The Karnataka government withheld the award to B.G. Ramakrishna, Principal of Government Pre-University College in Udupi district, on Thursday. In 2021, at the height of the hijab row in the state, Ramakrishna asked Muslim female students wearing hijabs to stand outside the classroom for months.
“If the decision is not reversed immediately, we will stage a protest. The decision in this regard will be made after consulting with party seniors,” BJP MLA T.S. Srivatsa said.
He said that the government’s decisions are not brought to the knowledge of the Chief Minister.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) filed a complaint with the government regarding selecting the best teachers.
“It is not right to hold back awards just to appease someone. Schools are sacred places. Actions which instil divisiveness in children’s minds should not be taken,” he said. He added that SDPI had also complained about religious symbols used at a Hindu pilgrimage centre.
“If actions like this continue, who will protect Karnataka? Please refrain from such actions,” Narayanaswamy said.
The SDPI had slammed the state government for announcing an award for Ramakrishna and ran a campaign against him. Earlier, Karnataka Minister for Education Madhu Bangarappa said the way the principal treated the children was the reason to withhold the ‘Best Principal Award’.
“The way the principal treated the children is the reason, that’s all. If he was following any government order, it had to be carried out in a certain manner. The committee will take a call on whether to give the award or not,” the Education Minister said. “Don’t politicise the issue. Congress does not believe in vindictive politics,” the minister responded when asked whether the government is practising vindictive politics in the state.
This story is based on an IANS wire feed. Only the headline has been changed.
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