Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Karnataka government has not issued any directive to lift the ban on wearing the hijab in educational institutions.

His clarification came a day after media reports said that the hijab ban had been revoked.

The ban, implemented by the previous BJP government, had sparked protests.

During an event in Mysuru the day before, Siddaramaiah stated that women are free to wear the hijab if they choose to do so.

This remark sparked speculation that the Chief Minister had issued the removal of the ban.

Siddaramaiah told reporters on Saturday that the Karnataka government has not officially issued any directive permitting the wearing of the hijab in educational institutions.

The plan to lift the hijab ban was part of the Congress's agenda even before the Assembly elections in this year’s May, where the party defeated the BJP government led by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Siddaramaiah has criticised the BJP, accusing them of allegedly dividing people based on attire and caste, while the BJP has labelled the Congress's approach as "appeasement politics."

Regarding the hijab issue, the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the government's authority to issue rules on attire.

The court has said it would consider the possibility of forming a three-judge bench to further address the matter.

The hijab controversy erupted in December 2021 when six girls at Udupi's Government PU College were asked not to wear the scarf in classrooms.

Over time, it has evolved into a political matter, gaining significance in the run-up to the 2024 general election.