Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Feb 20: Religious leaders of different communities on Saturday February 20 urged students to give up wearing shawls and Hijabs and honour the interim order issued by the Karnataka high court. They said that students should attend schools and colleges with the sole objective of attaining good education and not be distracted by anything else.

Religious leaders of Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities held a meeting on Saturday in the wake of the ongoing Hijab-Saffron shawl controversy.

Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana of Murugha Math, Chitradurga, Sri Basavamurthy Madara Chennaiah Swamiji of Madara Chennaiah Peetha, Sri Shantaveera Swamiji of Kuntichiga Maha Samsthana, Maulana Maqsood Imran Saheb of Jamia Masjid, Bengaluru and Maulana Sulaiman Khan of All India Mili Council were present.

Addressing the scribes, Sulaiman Khan said, "We should follow our religion at home, be Kannadiga in state and Indian in country. The interim order of the court should thus be understood clearly and followed.

"Every individual has the right to education as well as to practice their religion. However, right now the verdict of the court should be followed. No one should say that Hijab is more important than education. As the situation is serious, government should think of introducing online education," he said.

Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana said, "Hijab issue is created by human beings. Even in this critical situation, everyone should strive to maintain social harmony. We can only suggest and cannot form laws. So abide by the verdict of court and maintain peace."