Don’t want religion-related conflict in Maharashtra: Aaditya Thackeray

State minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray

Amid protests in some parts of the state over the hijab controversy, Shiv Sena leader and cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said that there should be no conflict over religion and politics in educational institutes, and the dress code, if any, should be followed by the students.

"We are of the opinion that the rules related to the uniform (dress code), if any, should be followed. We also don't want any religion-related conflict in the educational institutes because the schools, colleges and universities are the centres of learning and we are for quality education," he said. Aaditya Thackeray's statement is taken as the official stand of the Sena which heads the three-party coalition government consisting of the Congress and the NCP who hold a different view over the hijab row in Karnataka.

The Muslim community and their well-wishers took to streets in Maharashtra seeking justice for the girls who have been heckled by a section of the students for wearing hijabs. NCP minister Jitendra Awhad and Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan condemned the Karnataka government rule that does not allow hijab in the schools.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it's a woman's right to wear whatever she wants, be it bikini, hijab, saree, jeans or ghoonghat. "No one has the right to tell a woman what to wear. There shouldn't be any politics on this," she said in Lucknow.