Vijayapura: Visibly upset with the Supreme Court’s split verdict on the Hijab row, Veteran BJP Leader and Former Minister K. S. Eshwarappa however blamed the entire row for Muslims leaders.
One of the reasons for his disappointment is mainly because the BJP perhaps was hoping to get a favourable judgment, primarily upholding the order of Karnataka High Court.
It may be noted that the Karnataka High Court had rejected the petition of the Muslim girls stating that wearing of Hijab is not an intrinsic part of Islam.
Meanwhile, addressing mediapersons on Thursday October 13, Eshwarappa alleged that the entire row was started by a few Muslims girls who, according to him, were adamant in their demand of wearing Hijab in the school. Eshwarappa said that if the girls had taken some liberal stand, the matter would not have taken a serious turn.
“Some anti-national elements that were behind this entire row, instigated the girls to remain adamant in the Hijab issue. This attitude also irked many Hindu youth who wanted to wear saffron shawl inside the school if the Muslim girls want to wear Hijab. The matter became Hindu v/s Muslim only because of those a few Muslim girls, he alleged.
He felt that some of the elders of the Muslims community should have guided the girls and convinced them not to wear Hijab but the Muslims leaders did not take initiative.
Accusing the previous Congress Government led by Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of giving free hand to PFI, Eshwarappa said that such elements played a key role in creating communal disharmony in the name of Hijab.
“If the Congress Government had taken a tough stand against such outfits, then PFI would not have grown to this stage,” he said.
On the occasion, he informed that the party is holding conventions of various communities in different districts of the State. But when asked whether the party would also be holding a convention of Minorities, Eshwarappa rudely replied that Minorities are close relatives of the Congress. He essentially was saying that the party has no interest in holding conventions for Muslims.
When one of the media persons reminded him of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ (Cooperation of all, development of all), the slogan of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Eshwarappa said that the party will take only those Muslims who show loyalty to the nation.
Asked whether the party is giving certificates of patriotism to people, Eshwarappa claimed that what more is needed when PFI has been proved to be an anti-national organisation.
