New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) The RSS-linked Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) on Tuesday welcomed the Karnataka High Court verdict that upheld the ban on hijab in educational institutions in the state, saying truth alone triumphs.

In a statement, the MRM said "anarchic elements and narrow-minded leaders" should now desist from "using children" to serve their self-interest.

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Strict action should be taken against those who were "spreading poison" in the minds of the people and playing "a dirty politics" on the issue, it demanded.

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka High Court said Hijab was not part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith and effectively upheld the ban against the headscarf in educational institutions in the state by dismissing pleas from Muslim girls seeking nod to wear it in classrooms.

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A three-judge full bench of the High Court said the prescription of school uniform is only a reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to.

The court suggested the possibility of some "unseen hands" behind the hijab row to engineer social unrest and disharmony and expressed dismay over the issue being blown out of proportion during the academic term.

Later, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court by a Muslim student against the Karnataka High Court verdict.

"Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs)," the MRM said in its statement.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch strongly supports the decision of the Karnataka High Court on the issue of Hijab, it said.

"At the same time, the forum warns in strong words that anarchic elements and narrow-minded leaders should desist from using children for their personal gains. Strict action should be taken against those who are spreading poison in the country's atmosphere adopting divide the people and play dirty politics tactics," it added.

MRM spokesperson Shahid Sayeed alleged that "people from Congress and Popular Front of India" were politicising the issue and poisoning the minds of the people.

"The Karnataka High Court verdict is a befitting reply to such people," he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)