The Karnataka High Court is hearing a petition on the hijab controversy in colleges
Bangalore:
All schools and colleges in Karnataka will remain closed for the next three days amid a row over wearing hijab by students. Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai tweeted that he has ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges “to maintain peace and harmony”. The Karnataka High Court is hearing petitions by five women of a government college in Udupi questioning the hijab ban.
The High Court, which heard the matter today, will continue the hearing tomorrow as well. The court also asked the students and common people to maintain peace. Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad said, “This court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of the public at large and is hopeful that the same will be implemented.”
Just before the court proceedings ended today, the chief minister tweeted, “I appeal to all students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have appealed to all high schools and colleges to maintain peace and harmony.” The college has been ordered to be closed. For the next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate.”
I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as the people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. Cooperation from all concerned is requested.
— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) 8 February 2022
The protest against the hijab began last month at the Government Girls PU College in Udupi after six students alleged that they were barred from classes for insisting on wearing headscarves. Right-wing groups in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru objected to Muslim girls wearing the hijab.
Last Friday and Saturday, a group of students wearing saffron scarves marched to their college.
Protests intensified today after groups of protesters pelted stones at each other and students in a college hoisted saffron flags.
At a college in Mandya, a Muslim girl stood with a large number of boys wearing saffron dupatta and shouting “Jai Shri Ram”. She shouted back at them: “Allah hu Akbar!”
According to officials, college rules allow students to wear the hijab in class, but not during lessons.
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gyanendra, however, has said that children should “neither wear a hijab nor a saffron scarf” to school.
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