Amid the hijab row engulfing more and more colleges in the state, Karnataka high court on Tuesday said, “We will go by reason, by law, not by passion or emotions.” Protests for and against wearing headscarves continued across all districts in Karnataka. Students staged demonstrations outside Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College on Tuesday as a mark of protest against Muslim students wearing hijab. The students say they want equality and will wear this till Hijab is banned.
Two colleges declared holiday to avoid communal trouble (File)1
The controversy started last month at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district as six students alleged that they had been barred from classes for wearing headscarf and many Muslim girls took up the practice in protest.
The controversy over headscarves in Karnataka has intensified, with students defying the government order to use uniform clothing to maintain “unity and equality”.
Ahead of the High Court hearing on the row, Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai appealed to everyone to maintain peace. “The matter is before the High Court and it will be decided there… I appeal to everyone to maintain peace… All should follow the state’s order (on uniform) until the court decides,” he said.
Today, the Karnataka High Court will hear the petitions of five girls questioning the restriction on wearing hijab.
The controversy started last month at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district as six students alleged that they had been barred from classes for wearing headscarf and many Muslim girls took up the practice in protest.
Right-wing groups in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru objected to headscarves and the protests spread across the state. In retaliation, many students turned up in saffron scarves. Dalit students adopted blue scarves in support of hijab-wearing girls.
Two colleges declared holiday to avoid communal trouble. Another college allowed students wearing the hijab in separate classrooms.
Education Minister BC Nagesh has said students who insist on wearing hijab (head scarves) not be allowed into government educational institutions. He also ordered that women protesters be confined to a separate room of the colleges.