Muslim girls of the government pre-university college at Kundapur in Udupi district, who reached the institution wearing ‘hijab’ (headscarf) were stopped at the gate by the college principal during the day and informed that they are not allowed to wear hijab inside the classrooms and asked them to remove the head dress and enter classes.
When the students argued that the government order on status quo has not mentioned the Kundapur college, the principal told them the government circular applies throughout the state.
A day ago, the campus had turned tense after about 100 Hindu boys came to classes wearing saffron shawls to protest against the girls’ wearing hijabs inside classrooms. They, however, did not repeat their protest on Thursday.
Later, Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty spoke to the Muslim girls and their parents, but the latter continued to insist on the right to wear hijabs. State fisheries minister and Udupi district-in-charge S Angara said the status quo ordered by the state government disallowing hijabs inside classrooms will continue till a committee appointed to study the issue submits its report.
| Install Our App | DOWNLOAD |
| Join Telegram Channel | JOIN NOW |
| Join Facebook Group | JOIN NOW |
| Subscribe YouTube Channel | SUBSCRIBE |
| Follow On Twitter | FOLLOW |
| Follow On Instagram | FOLLOW |
Hijab Row
The hijab row simmering for nearly a month in a pre-university college for girls in Karnataka’s Udupi has spilled over to other colleges in the state.
On Wednesday, in Kundapur, also in Udupi district, a few boys studying at a government pre-university college, presumably Hindus, came to the campus wearing saffron shawls and asked Muslim students to remove their hijab.
According to sources, 27 Muslim girls who study in the institute had been coming to the campus wearing hijab.
Meanwhile, in Bhadravathi of Shivamogga district, students of Sir MV Arts and Commerce College came to the campus wearing saffron towels and demanded that the college administration should ban hijab.