Bengaluru: Grand Mufti of India Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw the ban on hijab in the state’s educational institutions. He raised the demand during a meeting with Siddaramaiah at the Kaveri House in Bengaluru on Monday. 

Grand Mufti was on a two-day visit to Karnataka to attend the Golden Fifty meeting of the Sunni Students’ Federation (SSF).

Mufti said the ban on hijab is a violation of fundamental rights, which hampers the educational progress of Muslim women. “Even before coming to power, Congress has assured in the election manifesto that the ban will be lifted,” Mufti said.

Mufti asked the chief minister to restore 4% reservation for Muslims, which was cancelled by the former government. Denying reservation for Muslims will have far-reaching consequences, he said. Karnataka Minister for Minorities Sameer Ahmed Khan, political secretary Naseer Ahmed, Karnataka Waqf Board chairman Anwar Pasha, Syed Fazal Koyamma Thangal, Dr Hussain Saquafi Chullikkad, B M Mumtaz Ali and others were also present at the meeting.