Ramakrishna Ashram Defends Lawyer Who Repped Muslim Students In Hijab Row

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat has been targeted by right-wing commentators for citing Islamic scriptures to defend students fighting for the right to wear hijabs in schools and colleges.

The noxious controversy over hijabs in Karnataka's schools and colleges is "unnecessary and not in the interest of peace and harmony", the Ramakrishna Ashram in the state's Karwar has said, defending a lawyer who has faced attacks for representing Muslim students in the case.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, who has been targeted by right-wing commentators for citing Islamic scriptures to defend students fighting for the right to wear hijabs in schools and colleges, has done no disservice to the Hindu religion, the ashram's top priest has said in a statement.

"An unnecessary discussion is going on about the dress code of Muslim girls in Schools/Colleges, and, I am pained to witness a raging controversy in this regards at different levels of the Society. This is certainly not in good taste, and, in the interest of peace and harmony in the Society," Swami Bhaveshanand said.

"I am more pained to observe that the name of Shri Devadatt Kamat - Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court is being dragged in this controversy simply because he represented a party in the Court as an Advocate," he said.