New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has now come out in support of college students in Karnataka protesting ban on wearing hijab in classrooms and campuses.
Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday took to Twitter to express her displeasure over the incident and said that whatever a woman wants to wear is guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
"Whether it is a bikini, a ghoonghat, a pair of jeans, or a hijab, it is a woman's right to decide what she wants to wear. This right is GUARANTEED by the Indian constitution. Stop harassing women," read her Twitter statement.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also endorsed Priyanka's thoughts with a thumbs up on her tweet.
The Karnataka hijab row has now slowly spread to other states. Several activists on Wednesday protested outside a government school in Puducherry after a Muslim girl was allegedly not allowed inside the classroom wearing a hijab and burqa.
On Tuesday, the Karnataka government declared a 3-day holiday for schools and colleges as the hijab controversy snowballed and took a violent turn in several parts of the state.
"I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tweeted.
The hijab protests started in Karnataka after a college in Udupi on February 4, allegedly denied entry to students for wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women).