Vijaypura: After the Karnataka high court’s ruling against hijab in educational institutions until its final order, colleges have denied hijab-wearing students entry into classrooms.
A standoff between school management, students, and parents took place as colleges cited the high court’s temporary order, banning all religious garments, including the hijab.
Colleges in Shimoga (Shivamogga), Kodagu, Tumkuru, Kolar, and Hubli districts of Karnataka denied entry students with headscarves entry into classrooms.
In videos that were shared on social media, hijab-clad students of various institutions can be seen attempting to convince the college management to grant them permission to attend classes, with hijab.
Students of a college located in Vijaypura (also known as Bijapur) can be seen talking with the principal of their institution, claiming that no message was posted in the college WhatsApp group informing them regarding the college’s decision over hijab.
However, the principal said that he cannot allow hijab-wearing students into the class as per the high court’s order.
Hijabi students of colleges in Kolar and Tumkuru carried out impromptu protests against the high court’s order to follow the state’s diktat raising slogan’s demanding justice and chanting Allahu Akbar.
Parents of agitating hijabi students of Women’s Arts and Commerce College in Hubli’s JC Nagar also protested against their wards being denied entry into classrooms, wearing hijabs.
Hijab controversy spreads to MP, Puducherry
Hijab row which began in Udupi District of Karnataka has now spread to Puducherry and Madhya Pradesh.
In Madhya Pradesh, Agrani Government Autonomous PG College in Datia district on Monday issued a circular asking students to avoid wearing ‘religion-specific’ attire. This circular was issued after saffron-shawl-clad youngsters protested against two students who were wearing hijab inside college premises.
Last week, the hijab row was triggered in Puducherry after a government school in Ariyankuppam stopped a Muslim girl from attending classes wearing a hijab.
Later, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists reached the school to enquire about the incident. They alleged that the student has been wearing a hijab for the last three years.
However, the school authorities claimed that the student used to wear the hijab only till she reached the school premises, and has now begun attending the classes wearing it.
Karnataka hijab controversy
The hijab row started last month after hijab-wearing students of Udupi Government Pre-University College were denied permission to attend classes.
Later, the students went on protest refusing to attend classes without hijab. The issue became a controversy and spread to other districts, leading to tension and even violence.
