Miss
Universe
2021
Harnaaz
Sandhu
has
appealed
to
the
society
to
stop
targeting
girls,
including
on
the
issue
of
hijab,
saying,
“Let
them
live
the
way
they
choose
to.”
A
three-judge
Bench
of
the
Karnataka
High
Court
recently
dismissed
the
petitions
which
sought
permission
to
wear
hijab
in
classrooms
of
educational
institutions
saying
headscarf
is
not
an
essential
religious
practice
and
uniform
dress
rule
should
be
followed
in
educational
institutions
where
it
has
been
prescribed.
In
a
clip
that
has
gone
viral
on
social
media,
a
reporter
asked
Sandhu
about
her
views
on
the
issue
around
hijab.
The
video
is
part
of
an
event
held
here
on
March
17
in
the
honour
of
the
Miss
Universe
2021's
homecoming.
Before
she
responded
to
the
query,
the
organiser
intervened
and
asked
the
reporter
to
abstain
from
asking
any
political
questions
and
suggested
the
media
to
rather
ask
about
her
journey,
success
and
how
she
has
been
a
source
of
inspiration.
The
reporter
responded,
saying
“Let
Harnaaz
say
the
same
things.”
The
Chandigarh-based
model
then
expressed
her
anguish
over
how
often
girls
are
targeted
in
society.
“Honestly,
why
do
you
always
target
girls?
Even
now
you
are
targeting
me.
Like,
even
on
the
issue
of
hijab
the
girls
are
being
targeted.
Let
them
(girls)
live
the
way
they
choose
to,
let
her
reach
her
destination,
let
her
fly,
those
are
her
wings,
don’t
cut
them,
if
you
must
(cut
someone’s
wings)
cut
your
own,”
Sandhu
said.
She
further
asked
the
reporter
to
ask
her
about
her
journey,
the
hurdles
that
she
faced,
and
the
success
at
the
beauty
pageant
earlier
this
year.
Recently,
a
video
surfaced
showing
a
Muslim
student
in
hijab
offering
namaz
in
a
Madya
Pradesh
university
and
that
has
led
to
a
controversy.
The
video,
shared
on
social
media,
shows
the
student
offering
namaz
inside
a
classroom
in
Dr
Harisingh
Gour
Sagar
University,
a
central
institution.
A
right-wing
group,
Hindu
Jagran
Manch,
has
complained
to
the
university
administration
to
act
against
the
student.
The
university
said
it
has
ordered
an
investigation.
The
Karnataka
High
Court
on
March
15
dismissed
petitions
seeking
to
allow
wearing
hijab
inside
classrooms.
The
hijab
is
not
an
essential
religious
practice,
the
Karnataka
High
Court
had
said
as
it
backed
a
ban
on
wearing
hijab
in
classrooms.
The
Supreme
Court
on
Thursday
refused
to
accord
urgent
hearing
on
the
pleas
challenging
the
Karnataka
High
Court
verdict.