National Federation of Indian Women condemns Karnataka Hijab row, calls it criminal
Mangaluru: The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) on Monday issued a press statement condemning the exclusion of young Muslim girls from Pre-University Colleges in Karnataka.
It stated that the federation unequivocally condemns the exclusion on the flimsy grounds that the attire of the students was not appropriate.
Calling the act "unconstitutional and criminal", NFIW added that the administration caved into the demand by a group of saffron-scarved boys to ban women wearing hijab from entering the premises of educational institutions.
“College after college is shutting its gates to unconstitutionally and criminally deny these women their fundamental right to freedom of expression and the right to education, available equally to every citizen of this country. What is being witnessed in Karnataka must be identified as the standard operating procedure of rabid communal fundamentalist groups who proclaim their allegiance to the RSS and the Sangh Parivar. Preventing students of the minority community from entering the educational institutes, vandalizing the institutions, burning down textbooks and other study materials and instruments, and just before the examinations, are established methods employed to further the divisive agenda. Such a method was observed in Kandhamal, Orissa, and many other places against the minority communities,” The statement stated.
“At a time when women’s education is suffering due to various material dispossession and structural violence, the fundamentalist forces are further aggravating the situation to disempower women, even more. It is contradictory and appalling that, the Modi government speaks about the all-around empowerment of women, while the Karnataka State BJP government is hell-bent on excluding Muslim girls from education.
“We would like to point out that the equation between the hijab and a religious symbol (a saffron scarf), is illogical and has been deliberately created for the purpose of raking up communal hatred. It is malicious and an attempt to terrorize the minorities. The complicity of the government officials to the unconstitutional demands of the Hindu extremists, make them party to violating constitutional rights,” it added.
Calling out the educational institutions for displaying communal and misogynist behavior, NFIW called it shameful and unacceptable and added that it was a direct outcome of the threats issued by the saffron brigade and agenda set by Brahmanical forces.
“It is shameful and unacceptable that the authorities who manage the educational institutions display such communal and misogynist behavior. Ostensibly, the strictures on the girls are a direct outcome of the threats issued by the saffron brigade. It is deplorable that instead of upholding the constitutional values and fundamental rights, the administration of these institutions has become willing participants in an agenda set by Brahmanical forces.
“It is distressing that as women are beginning to assert their right to freedom to choose apparel of their choice, Muslim women are being blackmailed with denial of education and forced to change their choice of clothing. This is a form of the cultural diktat of imposing the majoritarian aesthetic. Every citizen has the right to practice and profess their religion of choice without fear of being criminalized. Disciplining and punishing women’s bodies and choices is most curtailing not to way towards equality or progress,” it further added.
“The ministers should know that Hijab-wearing girls are not “spokespersons for the Taliban”, and they can never be. It is really ironic that the Taliban as well as the Hindu fundamentalist forces against women’s education.
“NFIW would like to reiterate that no religious fundamentalist group, neither the BJP-RSS nor the Taliban, or any other patriarchal body, has the right to regulate a woman’s body or mode of attire. This is tantamount to depriving the women of the country of their right to equality and justice. Our Constitution guarantees gender equality and also safeguards the right to life with dignity. Denial of Constitutional Rights to women is violence. By making inflammatory statements, the BJP is waging a war on the freedom of women and fostering an education system that is discriminatory, unequal, misogynist, and communal.
“NFIW expresses its support and solidarity with the Muslim women students who are fighting for their right to educate and have a right to life with dignity.
“We demand that the state government should take immediate, necessary steps to ensure the right of all women to dress according to their choice. It is also their constitutional mandate, and in the interest of the nation, to create a conducive atmosphere to enable Muslim women students to continue their education without any discrimination and violence.” NFIW demanded.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
