'Words Taken Out of Context': Minister on 'No Hijab in MP Schools' Remark

Inder Singh Parmar said girls wearing hijabs are breaking the dress code to create a hostile environment.

In December 2021, Muslim women were denied entry in Government Women's PU college in Udupi, Karnataka, for wearing hijab.

(Photo: PTI)

Amid the ongoing controversy over Muslim girls wearing hijab to schools and colleges in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh (MP) School Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar on Tuesday, 8 February, retracted his statement over a "ban on hijab" being considered in the state as well.

A day after he said that hijab should be banned in schools and a new dress code for MP schools is under consideration, Parmar said that his words were taken "out of context."

"The hijab is definitely not a part of the dress code. It is not a part of a school uniform. There should be a ban on the hijab. It will definitely be banned here as well. Further discussions will be held,” Parmar had said on Tuesday.

Commenting on the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, he had said: “As per India’s culture and traditions, people should practice their faith in their own homes. The girls wearing hijabs are deliberately breaking the dress code to create a hostile environment.”

The minister further said, “We will have discussions over the dress code here as well. A school's dress code must be followed. It is better for both girls and boys to adhere to the uniforms mandated by the schools. This is how discipline will be maintained in schools.”

Home Minister Denies 'Ban'; Parmar Says Words Taken Out of Context

However, a day after Parmar's comments, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra denied any such proposal.

"There is no dispute and there is no such proposal under consideration with the government of Madhya Pradesh. There shouldn't be any confusion on this."

MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra

Soon after Mishra's comments, Parmar said that there won't be any new dress code and that his statement was taken out of context.

"I had earlier issued a statement on the uniforms in school. My statement was regarding equality, discipline and the identity of the schools. But some people twisted my statements and presented it with the wrong context. We won't be enforcing any new dress code and we aren't working on it," he said.