‘Don’t try to challenge govt’; Minister harshly criticizes school management in hijab controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister V Sivankutty harshly criticized the Palluruthy school management over the hijab controversy. The minister pointed that there is an attempt to blame the government. The minister in harsh language accused the management for their planned attempt to politicize the issue. The minister warned against challenging the government. The minister said the lawyer's remarks are in a way that will aggravate the issue. The minister also advised them to refrain from provocative responses.

The management is of the stand that the student can continue in school if she gives a consent letter to come without the hijab. The child's father Anas responded that a final decision has not been taken yet. School authorities had earlier said that the chief minister's office had intervened in the controversy. The girl’s father had accepted the management's condition to come to school without wearing the hijab in an earlier consensus discussion. However, the controversy, which was thought to have been resolved, resurfaced after the education minister criticized the school management.

The girl’s father, who had previously accepted the condition, has now not taken a decision in giving the consent. The management is repeating their stand that she can continue in school if the consent form is given. As the uncertainty continues, the child did not come to school today. The reason cited is that she is down with fever.