Thiruvananthapuram: Minister V. Shivankutty expressed frustration when questioned by the media about the Hijab controversy. The minister got angry with Janam TV’s query regarding K. Anilkumar’s controversial statement on Hijab. Sivankutty said that every religion has the right to dress according to its customs. The minister made these remarks in response to the media after meeting with Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar.
Each religion has the right to follow its customs in terms of clothing. Wearing such attire alongside the uniform is permitted in schools in Kerala. V. Sivankutty expressed displeasure at Janam TV’s question and remarked, “There’s no need for Janam TV to stir up trouble on the Hijab issue.”
V. Shivankutty also argued that religious attire is restricted in states in North India. The minister claimed that it is the SFI that responds to such incidents in North India.
The hijab remarks of CPI(M) leader Adv. K Anil Kumar has become a big controversy. During his participation in the Litmus-23 conference organized by an atheist organisation ‘esSENSE Global’ at Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on October 1, Anil Kumar stated that the communist party had influenced Muslim girls in Kerala’s Malappuram district to abandon the hijab. He portrayed this as a sign of progress among Muslim women. This had evoked widespread criticism including inside CPI(M).
Many Muslim organizations like Samastha and leaders like KT Jaleel and Arif MP reacted strongly against Anil Kumar. CPI(M) isolated Anil Kumar and declared that the party does not share the same opinion as that of Anil Kumar.
