Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Thursday, 21 May announced that his organisation would distribute saffron shawls to students in schools and colleges across Karnataka beginning 1 June, escalating tensions over the state government's decision to lift restrictions on hijabs and permit select religious symbols in educational institutions. The announcement, made in Davanagere, comes as the hijab-versus-saffron-shawl controversy threatens to resurface ahead of the new academic year.

What the Karnataka Government Decided

The Congress government in Karnataka recently issued a notification lifting the earlier ban on hijabs in schools and colleges, while also permitting limited religious symbols — including turbans, kada, tilak, holy ash, Cross, and kalawa — on school and college premises. Crucially, the notification explicitly rules out saffron shawls, a distinction that Hindu organisations have sharply contested.

Muthalik alleged that the new notification effectively reverses the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's 2022 circular, which had prohibited religious attire in classrooms. 'The BJP government's 2022 notification has been withdrawn and the Congress government has issued a new notification allowing hijabs in schools and colleges,' he claimed.

Sri Rama Sene's Objections

Muthalik argued that school uniforms were introduced specifically to eliminate visible markers of religion, caste, and class among students. 'Forty years ago, the Congress government itself implemented a uniform policy across the country so that there would be no discrimination among students. But now they have broken that principle by permitting hijabs,' he said.

He further contended that if hijabs were permitted, saffron shawls must be granted equal standing. 'If hijabs are allowed inside schools and colleges, saffron shawls will also have to be allowed,' he asserted. Muthalik also alleged that the government's move was politically motivated, claiming it was aimed at pacifying Muslim voters following what he described as communal tension during a recent bypoll in Davanagere. He warned the decision could 'lead to conflict and even communal riots.'

VHP and Other Hindu Organisations Join Opposition

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also voiced opposition to the government's notification, adding institutional weight to the pushback from Hindu groups. Despite the state government's explicit prohibition on saffron shawls, multiple Hindu organisations have reportedly indicated they will continue to support students who choose to wear them to educational institutions.

Authorities are said to be closely monitoring developments, particularly with schools and colleges scheduled to reopen after summer vacation on 1 June.

2022 Controversy: A Flashback

The current standoff echoes Karnataka's 2022 hijab controversy, which severely strained law and order across the state. At the time, the Al-Qaeda network's then-leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a video praising student Muskan Khan, who had shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being heckled by a crowd in Mandya. Zawahiri called upon Indian Muslims to resist what he described as oppression — an intervention that drew widespread condemnation and heightened the controversy's national profile.

Separate Demand on Beef Exports

Separately, Muthalik said Sri Rama Sene had written to the Union Home Ministry and the Animal Husbandry Department demanding action on beef exports. 'Every year, beef worth nearly ₹50,000 crore is exported. Worshipping cows on one hand and exporting beef on the other is not right,' he said, warning of a major protest campaign against the Central government on the issue.

With schools set to reopen on 1 June, the situation in Karnataka is expected to sharpen — and the state government will face pressure to enforce its notification uniformly across all communities.