Karnataka BJP slams CM Siddaramaiah over ban on saffron symbols in schools
Synopsis
Karnataka's BJP has turned a school uniform policy revision into a full-blown political confrontation. By withdrawing its 2022 dress-code order and permitting 'limited faith-based symbols' — including hijabs — the Siddaramaiah government handed the opposition a potent Hindu-identity grievance, with Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka escalating the charge from policy critique to personal attack on the Chief Minister's religious impartiality.
Key Takeaways
The Karnataka government on Wednesday withdrew its 5 February 2022 school uniform order and issued new guidelines permitting 'limited traditional and faith-based symbols' in educational institutions.
BJP and Hindu organisations called on students to wear saffron shawls to school in protest; the government declined to permit saffron headgear.
Leader of Opposition R.
Ashoka accused CM Siddaramaiah of intolerance towards Hindu symbols including tilak, saffron, and the Hanuman flag.
The BJP alleged the revised order was a 'desperate appeasement strategy' linked to the Davanagere bypoll fallout and minority voter dissatisfaction.
The Siddaramaiah government has not formally responded to the BJP's latest round of criticism.
The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, 15 May launched a pointed attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of intolerance towards Hindu beliefs and religious symbols after the state government declined to permit saffron shawls and headgear in schools and colleges. The BJP's offensive follows a wider controversy triggered by the government's revised uniform guidelines issued earlier in the week.
What the Government Did
On Wednesday, the Karnataka government withdrew its earlier 5 February 2022 order on school and college uniforms and replaced it with fresh guidelines permitting students to wear 'limited traditional and faith-based symbols' — including hijabs and sacred threads — alongside prescribed uniforms in educational institutions across the state. The move stirred immediate controversy, with Hindu organisations and the BJP calling on students to wear saffron shawls to school in protest.
BJP's Sharpest Charges
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, led the attack with a strongly worded statement. 'You tremble at the sight of tilak, feel uneasy at the sight of saffron, become restless when you see the Hanuman flag, and are irritated even by the mention of the Ram temple,' Ashoka said, directing his remarks squarely at the Chief Minister.
Ashoka also alleged that Siddaramaiah participates enthusiastically in minority community events — 'During minority community events, you wear perfume, don a cap, and appear decorated like a newlywed groom,' he remarked — while allegedly reacting with hostility to Hindu customs and symbols. He reminded the Chief Minister that he holds office for the entire state. 'Do not forget that you are the Chief Minister of the whole state, not only of minorities,' Ashoka added.
The Political Context
The BJP has framed the revised uniform order as a calculated political move. Ashoka alleged earlier this week that the Congress government revived the hijab issue as part of a 'desperate appeasement strategy' following the Davanagere bypoll fallout and growing dissatisfaction among minority voters. He called the move 'damage control' aimed at protecting the ruling party's vote bank, accusing the Siddaramaiah administration of resorting to divisive politics instead of addressing governance failures.
'The Congress government, rattled by the fallout of the Davanagere bypolls and growing anger within its minority voter base, has once again resorted to its old divisive playbook,' Ashoka charged. He alleged that issues such as rising prices, corruption, farmer suicides, and deteriorating law and order were being sidelined in favour of religious symbolism for electoral gain. 'This is not about rights. It is a calculated political bribe to appease a specific community that has recently shown its discontent,' he said.
What Happens Next
The revised uniform guidelines remain in effect, and the controversy is unlikely to subside quickly ahead of upcoming electoral cycles in Karnataka. Hindu organisations have signalled continued protests, while the BJP is expected to press the issue in the state legislature. The Siddaramaiah government has yet to formally respond to the latest round of BJP criticism.
Point of View
Constitutionally grounded rationale was always going to be read as electoral signalling, especially in the aftermath of Davanagere. The harder question the mainstream coverage skips is whether any uniform policy — 2022's or the new one — is actually enforceable in a state where school compliance has historically been patchy. The identity politics framing from both sides conveniently buries that administrative reality.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Karnataka government change about school uniform rules?
The Karnataka government on Wednesday withdrew its 5 February 2022 school uniform order and issued fresh guidelines permitting students to wear 'limited traditional and faith-based symbols' — including hijabs and sacred threads — alongside prescribed uniforms in educational institutions across the state.
Why is the BJP attacking CM Siddaramaiah over the uniform order?
The BJP alleges that the revised guidelines favour minority communities while the government simultaneously declined to permit saffron shawls and headgear. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of intolerance towards Hindu symbols and framed the policy change as political appeasement ahead of elections.
What is the connection to the Davanagere bypoll?
The BJP has alleged that the Congress government revived the faith-based symbols issue as a 'desperate appeasement strategy' following the Davanagere bypoll and growing dissatisfaction among minority voters. The opposition claims the policy shift is vote-bank politics rather than a rights-based decision.
What has the Siddaramaiah government said in response?
As of the latest reports, the Siddaramaiah government has not formally responded to the BJP's latest criticism. The revised uniform guidelines remain in effect.
What action have Hindu organisations taken in response?
Hindu organisations and the BJP have called on students to wear saffron shawls to school in protest against the government's revised uniform guidelines, which they argue exclude Hindu religious symbols while permitting others.
