In Rajasthan, BJP MLA stirs up hijab row in school, minister says Muslim ‘thinking more towards crime’
Hamza Khan | 30 January 2024 | The Indian Express
The BJP MLA from Rajasthan’s Hawa Mahal, Balmukund Acharya, has objected to girls wearing the hijab at a government school, prompting Cabinet minister Kirodi Lal Meena to say he will talk to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma about enforcing a ban on the head covering in all government and private schools in the state.
As part of Republic Day celebrations at the school on January 27, Acharya had visited the Government Girls Secondary School in Jaipur’s Gangapol locality. In a video that surfaced afterwards, he can be seen pulling up a school administrator over some students wearing the hijab. In another video, he is seen asking school authorities to stop students from wearing the hijab in school, which has a mix of Hindu and Muslim children.
In another video, he is seen on stage, leading the students in chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Saraswati Mata Ki Jai”. He can also be heard saying, “Kuch bachhiyan nahi bol rahin, kya baat hai, mana kiya kya? (Some girls are not saying it. Have you been asked not to?)” He is also seen walking through the school and leading students in chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.