Karnataka suspends best teacher award for Kundapur principal following hijab row

Udupi (Karnataka) (India), September 5 (ANI): The Karnataka government has suspended the distribution of the state-level best teacher award, which was initially to be given to the principal of the Government Undergraduate College, Kundapur. The identity of the principal has not been revealed.

The controversy stems from an incident two years ago when Ramakrishna BG, the then principal, denied entry to students wearing hijab in compliance with a government order. The move sparked widespread protests across Karnataka, particularly in Mangalore, Mandya and Udupi districts.

Following the announcement of the award, some “progressive” people took to social media to criticise the decision, which sparked a huge backlash. In response, the state government decided not to award the prize.

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa commented on the situation and said, “I think they (the committee) have overlooked this particular issue. So when we came to know yesterday that there was a problem, we kept it on hold for the time being. We will just clarify it and then go ahead and give an update. I have told them to check again and then get back to us. The way he treated the children is the problem… Don’t politicise the issue.” Frontline Hindu organisation has condemned the move accusing the Siddaramiah government of indulging in appeasement.

Govardhan Rao, vice-president of VHP North Karnataka, said, “We condemn this because the best teacher award has been given to people who have done excellent work in the education sector. Therefore, withholding his name for some other reason is condemnable… We request the government to immediately withdraw such withholding…” Former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed the Siddaramiah government: “This is what blatant appeasement politics looks like. On Teachers’ Day 2024, a principal selected as one of the best teachers is being deprived of his honour because he enforced the hijab ban, which was the law.” (ANI)