Hijab-wearing students instigated: Minister

Bengaluru: Karnataka Education Minister B C Nagesh on Friday said hijab-wearing students in an Udupi government college have been instigated by political fronts for electoral gains.

“The dress code has been in vogue on the college campus since 1985. All these years, there was no problem. But now, all of a sudden, six female students are raking up an issue over hijab wearing. They were okay with it for two-and-half years. I feel they have been instigated by political fronts,” he told reporters here.

“There is politics in it. In the coming days, if students come to college wearing skimpy dresses, should the college authorities allow it? This controversy started a year before the elections,” he added.

Moreover, there are other Muslim students who are okay with the ban on wearing hijabs inside the classrooms. “The problem is only with six students. Schools and colleges are not religious centers. Wearing hijab during classes is violation of the dress code which amounts to indiscipline,” Nagesh said.

The row came into public domain on January 1 after six Muslim female students were barred from attending classes for wearing hijabs, which was a violation of the dress code.

Groups like the People’s Front of India called the ban on hijab in classes as discrimination by college authorities on the basis of religion. They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

The Assistant Commissioner and the Principal of the college have asked the students to attend classes without hijab.

About Post Author