MANGALURU: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) on Monday withdraw the order which banned women candidates from wearing mangalsutra, bangles and other religious symbols inside the hall for recruitment exams.
The railway ministry has clarified that candidates wearing such items will not face any trouble during the examination process.
The ban on religious symbols during the railway exam had caused a huge embarrassment to the BJP in Karnataka, as it came days after its cadres staged intense protests across the state over some candidates wearing Janivara (sacred thread) not being allowed to write the Common Entrance Test.
In a statement, South Western Railway said the instructions were modified so that the religious sentiments of the people won't be hurt. It said that during frisking, candidates found carrying/ wearing metallic wears, religious symbols, bangles, ornaments, mangal sutra, bracelets shall be allowed inside the Examination Hall with suitable endorsement in their call letter so that invigilators shall be 'extra vigilant' for such candidates.
On Sunday, VHP had slammed RRB for this rule, stating that it has hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus. Stating that such 'anti-Hindu' stance cannot be accepted in a Hindu majority nation, VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell had appealed to the authorities to allow candidates to write the exams with their religious symbols on.
Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, who took up the issue with Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and other senior officials from the Railway Department, said several MPs, MLAs, Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha and various other organisations had also brought this matter to his attention.
In a post on 'X', Somanna said clear instructions have been issued to the relevant authorities to ensure that candidates wearing items representing their culture, such as the Janivara, Mangalya Sutra, etc., will not face any hindrance or trouble during the examination process. Candidates will be permitted to write the examination provided they adhere to all other prescribed examination rules and regulations.
“I urge all candidates to cooperate by strictly following the established examination procedures for a smooth process. There is no need for any confusion or concern regarding the permissibility of wearing culturally significant items like the Janivara or Mangalya Sutra,” Somanna said in a post on 'X'.
The recruitment for the various posts of railways began on Monday and will continue till Wednesday. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta thanked Sommanna for his intervention and for issuing necessary directions to the authorities.