New Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the Karnataka government on the controversy over the demand by Muslim students for wearing the hijab in classrooms stating that by not permitting them to do so, the country was robbing the future of its daughters.

"By letting students' hijab come in the way of their education, we are robbing the future of the daughters of India. Ma Saraswati gives knowledge to all. She doesn't differentiate. #SaraswatiPuja," the Congress leader tweeted on the occasion of Saraswati Puja.

On February 4, students wearing hijabs were allegedly denied entry into a government college in Kundapur area of Udupi in Karnataka, amid a row on wearing the headscarf in classrooms.

Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh had told reporters, "They were not wearing the hijab earlier and this 'problem' started only 20 days ago."

The hijab row has snowballed in Karnataka with students at a Chikkamagaluru college wearing saffron shawls to mark their protest against girls wearing hijabs on campus.

On Tuesday, many students also staged a dharna over the same. The police then entered the college premises and brought the situation under control.

In view of the development in the state, Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Friday alleged that the opposition against hijab was to deprive Muslim girls of education.

"This is the plan of depriving female students of education. The aim is to deprive female children of education," Siddaramaiah told media persons in Bengaluru on Friday.