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The recent controversy surrounding the withholding of a best teacher award to a college principal in Karnataka has escalated into a political battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has vehemently condemned the decision, labeling it as a blatant example of “appeasement politics” by the Congress government. The heart of the controversy lies in the principal's enforcement of the hijab ban during a period of intense debate and protests across the state.
B.G. Ramakrishna, the principal of the Government PU College in Kundapur, faced the wrath of the Congress government after he implemented the hijab ban, a policy that had been previously mandated by the School Development and Monitoring Committee. The BJP, in a strong stance, has defended the principal's actions, asserting that he merely adhered to the existing regulations. The party's MLC, C.T. Ravi, in a social media post, accused the government of succumbing to pressure from “self-proclaimed intellectuals” and unjustly denying the award to a deserving individual. He emphasized that the principal’s decision to enforce the dress code was in line with the committee's guidelines and argued that the denial of the award was a gross injustice to the education sector and the teaching community.
The opposition's allegations have further fueled the controversy, with the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, claiming that the award was withheld following a complaint filed by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). He questioned the government's decision-making process, wondering if it was bowing to the dictates of the SDPI. This accusation has raised concerns about the government's potential susceptibility to pressure from certain groups and its commitment to upholding the principles of merit and fairness in awarding recognition. The BJP’s stance and the opposition's allegations have created a tense political atmosphere, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the hijab ban and the potential for it to become a focal point of political maneuvering.
Source: Withholding award to college principal is ‘appeasement politics’, says BJP