New Delhi, Feb 8 : Raising the Karnataka Hijab row during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Congress Leader in the House, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded the government to make a statement in Parliament on the issue. Raising the issue in the House, the Congress leader said, “We talk about Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas in the House, but reports are coming that despicable acts are being done on basis of religion.” “All religions are equal, but all religions have their own identity. Hindus wear tilak, Muslims women wear Hijab. It is not a crime to wear Hijab but women are being attacked and discriminated against for wearing Hijab. This leads to division in the society, like what is happening in Karnataka. They are being forced not to wear Hijab,” Chowdhury said. “Government should make a statement on the Hijab issue in the House,” he added. This led to angry exchanges between the Opposition and Treasury benches. Chowdhury was countered by BJP MP from Haveri, Karnataka, Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, who said the matter is subjudice and should not be raised in the House. “Congress is making a hue and cry about Hijab… Throughout the country, in MP, even Maharashtra, there was a court case, the court stated clearly public interest should be seen. It is a state subject and also subjudice. It should not be raised here,” Udasi said. Several educational institutions in Karnataka have stopped women wearing Hijab from attending classes. The Karnataka High Court heard a petition on the issue on Tuesday. Hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to the Hijab controversy, the Karnataka High Court requested the student community and public at large to maintain peace and tranquility, pending further hearing of the matter. Dissatisfied with the government response, Opposition MPs including those from Congress, DMK, IUML, CPI-M, CPI, JMM and other parties, staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha.(UNI)