BJP Alleges Education Minister Bowed to SDPI Pressure on Hijab Row, Accuses of Promoting ‘Political Islam’s Agenda’
Kochi: BJP State Vice President Adv. Shone George has accused the Congress and CPI(M) of colluding with the SDPI, alleging that the latter is deliberately working to disrupt peace. During a press conference, George stated that he had visited the school the day after the recent hijab incident and observed that no leaders from Congress or CPI(M) had come to investigate the events. He attributed this lack of inquiry to the SDPI being the opposing party to the school in the dispute.
George further claimed that Congress MP Hibi Eden, who subsequently visited the site, falsely asserted that the RSS-BJP communal agenda was behind the incident. George refuted this, clarifying that neither the BJP nor the RSS had issued any statements on the matter. He emphasized that the BJP’s only involvement was responding to media inquiries about discussions held during their visit, and they had not engaged in any protest activities.
The BJP Vice President accused Hibi Eden of intentionally visiting the school to deflect attention from and cover up the aggressions allegedly perpetrated by the SDPI. He challenged Hibi Eden to explain the culpability of the RSS and BJP in the alleged SDPI attack on the school.
George highlighted a significant reversal in the Education Minister’s stance. Initially, the Minister had stated that no attire covering the uniform should be permitted, but later retracted this position and threatened action against the school. He noted that following the Minister’s revised statement, SDPI representatives directly demanded that the Minister’s directives be formalized and issued as a circular. George called upon Hibi Eden and the Education Minister to provide clarification on why a circular regarding the hijab should be issued, drawing parallels to previous circulars concerning ‘halal’ issues and prayer timings.
Adv. Shone George made a strong accusation, asserting that Kerala has transformed into a “concentration center” for the Islamic State in India, aiming to advance the agenda of “political Islam.” He alleged that both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress are assisting these groups for electoral gain. George emphasized that despite numerous High Court and Supreme Court judgments pertinent to such issues, the SDPI is deliberately instigating conflict. He affirmed the BJP’s commitment to strongly resist these actions and provide all necessary protection.
Concluding his statement, George accused the Education Minister of intimidating the school management, even to the extent of threatening adverse reports regarding affiliation through education department officials. He reiterated that the Education Minister’s sudden change in approach towards the school management on the hijab issue, despite initially advocating for uniform dignity, was solely a result of pressure from the SDPI. George described this trend as an “infiltration by the Islamic State,” vowing that it would be opposed and strongly resisted by the BJP. BJP State Spokesperson Adv. T. P. Sindhumol and BJP Ernakulam City District President Adv. K. S. Shaiju were also present at the press conference.