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In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, a stronghold of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP party, there have been protests and counter-protests over Muslim students wearing the hijab and the authorities have closed schools and colleges.聽Some colleges have banned the hijab in the classroom, saying it goes against policies on school uniform.聽

Saba Naqvi, a journalist and author based in New Delhi, says she believes the issue is not about a dress code, but has been politicised by the ruling BJP party, and until now, there has not been a discussion about women covering their heads.

"What is being passed off as an issue about the hijab is actually an example of Islamophobia by the ruling parties - the BJP."

Photo: Muslim students and members of Muslim Students Federation (MSF) protest in New Delhi, against the recent hijab ban in Karnataka Credit: Getty Images