The prestigious Delhi Public School (DPS) decision to allegedly bar a Muslim woman teacher from wearing Abaya (Islamic gown that covers the body from neck-to-toe) has stoked a major political storm in the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir.
Seemingly angry over school’s decision in the poll season, the Mehbooba Mufti-led government sent a stern message to the DPS management saying Jammu and Kashmir was not France where the government or any institute could decide the dress code for the people.
Protests had rocked the elite school on Friday after a science teacher was barred from wearing Abaya. Scores of students gathered in the main ground and protested against the administration for barring the teacher from wearing the Islamic dress. Shouting slogans, scores of students demanded an apology from the school administration for targeting the teacher who had joined just three months ago.
Students said the administration had put the teacher on notice asking her to choose between job and the Abaya. There are conflicting reports whether the teacher was dismissed or she chose to quit job after the warning from the administration.
The issue rocked the Legislative Assembly on Saturday with independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rasheed raising the issue during the Zero Hour. “Banning of Abaya by a Delhi-based educational trust in a Muslim state is condemnable and unacceptable. Banning the veil is a clear attempt to snatch religious rights and trespassing into one’s faith”, said Rasheed.
Responding to the Member’s concern, J&K minister for education Naeem
Akhtar said that J&K is a multi-cultural and multi-religious state, where people have all the freedom to follow their cultures and religions.
“People in J&K have all the freedom to take decision about their private lives. Our state is not France where government or some institute decides what dress people should wear. People here have all the freedom to follow their culture, religion and can dress as per their own choice,” he said.
Akhtar assured the House that the government would go look into the issue and take up the matter with the school management.
Earlier, chief of the hardline woman separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Milat Syeda Aasiyeh Andrabi jumped onto the bandwagon and condemned Delhi Public School for its action. “They must understand that Kashmir is a Muslim majority state and its people will dress as per the Islamic dress code. The protesting students have done a commendable job”, she said
Chairman of DP Dhar Memorial Trust, Vijay Dhar told Kashmir Post that he was situated in Delhi and asked us to contact the principal in J&K. “I am in Delhi. You please contact the principal”, he said
