SRINAGAR: A recent incident at Vishwa Bharti Higher Secondary School in Srinagar’s Rainawari area has sparked controversy as female students allege that the school authorities are restricting their entry into the campus while wearing the Abaya, a traditional Islamic attire. The issue gained widespread attention after a video of the protesting girls went viral on social media, leading to criticism and prompting a response from the political leaders.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti described the school’s actions as unacceptable, stating, “After Karnataka, now they want to experiment with it in Kashmir. Kashmir has become a laboratory for the BJP’s plans to transform Gandhi’s India into Godse’s India. All experiments begin in the Valley.” She added that the school’s actions would have serious consequences.
“This is a direct attack on our religion. They are infringing upon the freedom of religion, the freedom of choice to wear and eat, which are guaranteed by the constitution of the country,” she said.
Expressing dismay over the prohibition on wearing Abaya at Vishwa Bharti School in Rainawari, Tanvir Sadiq, the Chief Spokesperson of J&K National Conference, said the directive encroaches upon religious freedom, including the right to choose one’s religious attire.
Tanvir stated that the incident violates religious freedom and stigmatizes women and girls. He expressed concern over the government’s silence on the matter and said, “The decision to wear a Hijab should be left to the students. This directive reflects the prevailing patriarchal and communal mindset. These incidents should not be seen in isolation, but rather as part of an attempt to enforce homogeneity at the expense of the country’s diverse cultural, linguistic, religious, and ethnic heritage.”
Enforcing uniformity at the expense of religious beliefs contradicts the pluralism of the country, he added. “Wearing a Hijab should be a personal choice, and there should be no interference in matters of religious attire. It is unfortunate to witness such incidents in a region where Muslims form a majority. We strongly oppose this and call for immediate corrective action.”
Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Nasir ul Islam, criticized the move, asserting that women have the right to protect their modesty by wearing the Abaya. “As it is a co-educational institution, the girls have every right to wear the Abaya, which is a religious obligation,” Islam said.
Showing support for the protesting girls, Ashok Koul, the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stated that individuals should have complete personal independence in their choice of attire. “There should be no compulsion regarding what to wear and what not to wear. We won’t dictate anyone’s dress; there should be complete freedom. We can’t force anyone to wear something they don’t like. Students should be allowed to wear what they want,” he told reporters in Srinagar.
Ashok Koul expressed his belief that no one should be compelled to wear something they dislike. He emphasized the importance of individual freedom and stated that students should be allowed to wear what they want without interference or coercion.
Pertinent to mention, the school has issued a response to the claims. The school clarifies that there is no ban on wearing Abaya for female students. “The management emphasises that they respect the sentiments of all sections of society regarding the dress code. It was politely conveyed to students that they should wear the school uniform underneath the Abaya. The school assures all students that they are allowed to wear Abaya and no classroom restrictions have been imposed” the order said.
The school principal also apologize if any misrepresentation has caused hurt sentiments among students and parents.
