Karnataka Hijab Row: Sri Ram Sena Launches Saffron Shawl Campaign In Karnataka Colleges.

Saffron Shawls Distributed in Karnataka Colleges After Hijab Ban Revocation, Renewing Debate Over Religious Symbols in Education.

B Upendran | HENB |  Hubballi, Karnataka |June 1, 2026:: A fresh controversy has emerged in Karnataka’s educational institutions after members of the Hindutva organization Sri Rama Sene distributed saffron shawls to students at several colleges in Hubballi, days after the Congress-led state government revoked a controversial 2022 order that had effectively prohibited the wearing of hijabs in classrooms.

The distribution drive took place on Monday at a number of colleges, including Kanakadasa College. Sri Rama Sene activists described the move as a response to the state government’s decision to allow students to wear hijabs and certain other faith-based symbols in schools and colleges.

The development comes amid renewed political and social debate over religious expression in educational institutions, an issue that has remained contentious in Karnataka since the state’s hijab controversy first erupted in late 2021.

Background: Withdrawal of the 2022 Order

The Congress government recently withdrew a February 5, 2022 order issued by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration during the height of the state’s hijab dispute. The earlier order had formed the basis for restrictions on students wearing hijabs in classrooms and was widely criticized by civil rights groups, opposition parties, and sections of the academic community.

Under the revised guidelines, the Karnataka government stated that permissible traditional and faith-based symbols may include items commonly worn by students, such as the turban, janeu, shivadhara, rudraksha, and hijab, provided they do not interfere with discipline, safety, or the identification of students.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that saffron shawls would not be included among the permitted symbols.

“Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn,” Siddaramaiah said while explaining the government’s position.

Sri Rama Sene’s Response

The distribution of saffron shawls follows earlier statements by Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Muthalik, who had announced that the organization would provide saffron shawls to students across Karnataka if the government allowed hijabs in educational institutions.

The organization has argued that if certain faith-based symbols are permitted, saffron shawls should also receive similar recognition. Sri Rama Sene opposes the government’s decision to allow limited religious symbols—including the hijab, turban, kada, tilak, holy ash, and kalawa—while excluding saffron shawls from the approved list.

By distributing the shawls, the organization appears to be challenging what it views as unequal treatment of religious symbols under the revised policy.

Government Response

Responding to the controversy, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar indicated that the government would deliberate further on the issue.

“We will discuss whether a saffron shawl is needed or a national shawl. Now, Siddaramaiah sir and I are going to Delhi,” Shivakumar told reporters.

His remarks suggest that discussions within the government regarding dress codes and religious symbols in educational institutions may continue in the coming weeks.

Reactions from Legal and Academic Voices

The controversy has generated diverse reactions from public intellectuals, legal experts, and activists.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde took a relatively permissive position regarding the saffron shawls.

“Let them wear it by all means. However, they should not discard it after they adopt it,” he said, implying that those embracing the attire should do so consistently rather than as a political statement.

Writer and activist Apoorvanand, however, criticized the move and questioned its connection to traditional Hindu practices.

“Hindus never wore it. It is not a Hindu custom. This is Hindutvafication of Hindus,” he argued, suggesting that the saffron shawl campaign reflects a political rather than a religious tradition.

Continuing Legacy of the Hijab Controversy

The latest developments are rooted in the larger hijab dispute that began in Karnataka’s Udupi district in late 2021. What initially emerged as a disagreement over classroom dress rules eventually escalated into a statewide political, social, and legal controversy.

Critics of the 2022 restrictions have long argued that the issue was politically driven and amplified by Hindutva organizations alongside the then BJP-led state government. According to these critics, many Muslim students had worn hijabs in educational institutions for years without significant conflict before the dispute emerged.

They contend that the controversy evolved from a localized disagreement into a broader political campaign that polarized communities across the state.

Observers also point to the emergence of saffron-shawl counter-protests during the height of the dispute, as well as incidents involving the harassment of hijab-wearing students. Human rights advocates and education activists have argued that the restrictions disproportionately affected Muslim women and created barriers to their continued access to education.

Uniformity in Education and the Debate Over Religious Symbols

The renewed dispute highlights an ongoing national debate over the place of religious identity and expression within public educational institutions. Supporters of allowing faith-based symbols argue that constitutional protections of religious freedom should extend to personal attire and expressions of belief. Opponents often emphasize uniformity, neutrality, and institutional discipline within educational settings.

With the Karnataka government having reversed the previous restrictions while maintaining limits on certain forms of attire such as saffron shawls, the state once again finds itself at the center of a contentious discussion involving religion, politics, identity, and education.

The controversy has also revived a broader debate about the role of uniforms and dress codes in educational institutions. Supporters of a common dress code argue that schools and colleges should remain spaces focused on learning, where students are identified primarily as learners rather than by their religious, caste, or political affiliations. They contend that permitting visible religious attire or symbols—including hijabs, saffron shawls, and other faith-based wearables—risks introducing communal distinctions into campuses and may encourage competing displays of religious identity. According to this view, a uniform dress code promotes equality, social cohesion, and a sense of shared citizenship by minimizing external markers of difference and helping educational institutions maintain a neutral and inclusive environment for all students.

As authorities consider their next steps, the issue is likely to remain a subject of political debate and public scrutiny, particularly as competing groups continue to advance differing visions of secularism, religious freedom, and equality within educational institutions.
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_Video inputs from NDTV.