Thiruvananthapuram, Oct. 17 -- The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M) Kerala State secretary MV Govindan on Friday slammed Congress and the SDPI, accusing them of trying to incite unrest over an issue where a school in Kochi refused to permit a student to attend classes wearing a hijab (headscarf), citing the institution's uniform policy.

"The party has a clear understanding of the issue. The problem at St. Rita's School is being exploited by the SDPI to create communal polarisation," Govindan told reporters.

"Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty has taken a firm and clear stance that wearing attire is a democratic right. In Kerala, every religious community has the right to live freely and practice its faith without interfere...