'Ma Saraswati doesn't differentiate': Rahul Gandhi on Karnataka hijab row

Gandhi tweeted, "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."

Hitting back at the Congress leader, the Karnataka BJP has put up a tweet that reads, "By communalising education, CONgress co-owner @RahulGandhi has once again proved that he is dangerous to the future of India. If Hijab is very much essential to get educated, why doesn't Rahul Gandhi make it mandatory in States ruled by CONgress?"

Gandhi's tweet comes after around 40 women students protested at the gate of Bhandarkars Arts and Science College at Kundapur in Karnataka's Udupi as they were refused entry into the educational institution unless they took off their headscarves.

"Girl students are permitted to wear the scarf inside the campus, however the colour of the scarf should match with the dupatta, and no student is allowed to wear any other cloth inside the campus including the college canteen," the college said in its instruction.

Defending his college's instruction, principal Narayan Shetty said he wanted to preserve harmony on campus.