Egged on by Islamist outfits such as Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliate Campus Front, a group of Muslim girl students clad in full-body veils have launched an agitation demanding the government to allow them wear hijab in educational institutions. After Islamist outfits started flexing their muscles, Hindu students have started coming to colleges wearing saffron robes. Islamist outfits have launched a massive social media campaign and escalating a regional issue to a national and international one.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has asked educational institutions to follow existing uniform related rules, until the High Court comes out with an order in this regard, next week. The matter is coming up before the High Court. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday, February 4 held a meeting with Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh and top government officials, regarding the government’s stand. Education “As the matter is before the court, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the Legal department and the Primary and Secondary Education departments. He has advised us to inform the government’s stand to the court after getting the Advocate General’s opinion. Legal department informed the meeting as to what the law and rules say,” Nagesh said.
The Congress is trying to fish in the troubled waters by supporting Islamist elements. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said it was a right of Muslim students to wear hijab.
However, “We cannot change the rules for six or eight radicalised students who want to wear their religion on the sleeve. If others also insist on wearing saffron or other dress, it will lead to lot of problems,” said a senior faculty member on condition of anonymity.
On January 20, Primary and Secondary Education minister BC Nagesh termed the entire episode a political drama. He said if they want to practice religion, campuses are not the place for that. He urged the students to adhere to rules regarding the uniform for students, which have been followed since 1985. “There are over a hundred Muslim children studying in the institution who have no problems. Only these few students are choosing to protest. Schools and colleges should not turn into religious centres,” he said. He also went on to say that wearing hijab in the classroom would amount to indiscipline as other students may expect similar concessions.
Meanwhile, the college has been shut for six days from January 21 to January 26, in the wake some students contracting Covid-19. The principal’s note says that six students have tested positive for the coronavirus, and because of this, all students have been given a holiday for five days. However, they are expected to be back on campus from January 26, it adds.
Even as the controversy over hijab refusing to die down, the authorities of the Women’s Government PU College, Udupi, have decided not to buckle under pressure from the Islamists. Eight Muslim girls who are members of the radical Islamist outfit, Campus Front, an affiliated organisation of Popular Front have been banned from entering campus for not observing the college dress code. They insist that they want to wear their religious dress on the campus, though a majority of Muslim girls have no problem with uniform.
Putting his foot down, the principal of the college said there was no compromise on the dress code. No one will be allowed to wear religious dress on the campus, he said after a section of Hindu students said they would come with saffron robes around their neck. The recalcitrant girls have been asked not to attend classes since December 31.
Also Read : Ban on hijab in classrooms in Udupi college: Islamist outfits plan communal agitation
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