On May 14, 2026, a protest took place in Hubballi, Karnataka, organized by members of Hindutva outfits, including Sri Rama Sene led by Pramod Mutalik. The protest was in response to the state government's decision to lift the ban on wearing hijab in educational institutions. Protesters gathered in front of the Sangolli Rayanna statue, expressing their discontent with the Congress-led government's move, which they labeled as Muslim appeasement. During the protest, demonstrators displayed morphed images of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in hijabs, which they subsequently burned. They also tore copies of the government notification that rescinded the hijab ban. Mutalik emphasized that the matter is still being adjudicated in court, asserting that the government's withdrawal of the ban could be seen as contempt of court, especially since the Karnataka High Court has previously stated that the hijab does not constitute a religious practice.