- Kerala’s St Rita’s School denies hijab to Class 8 student citing dress code.
- PTA claims SDPI backing the parents; political tension escalates.
- School seeks police protection; announces two-day closure.
- BJP criticizes SDPI, calls incident a threat to secularism.
GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 14th Oct: A hijab dispute at St Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy, Ernakulam, has triggered a political row in Kerala. A Class 8 student was denied entry last week for wearing a hijab, which school authorities said violated its dress code.
The student said, “They made me stand at the entrance and told me to remove it. Teachers were rude. I won’t study here.”
The confrontation drew in the girl’s parents and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). PTA President Joshi Kaithavalappil alleged that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), linked to the banned Popular Front of India, was backing the parents and pressuring the school.
The school approached the Kerala High Court seeking police protection and announced a two-day holiday on October 13 and 14. Principal Sister Helena said all parents were informed of the dress code at admission. She added the student followed the rules for four months but recently wore the hijab in a way inconsistent with school policy.
The opposition BJP slammed the SDPI for creating a “ruckus” and undermining the secular fabric of the state. BJP spokesperson Shone George said, “There is nothing wrong in a girl wearing a hijab. But the school shut down out of fear of SDPI… this cannot be allowed.”
