Wearing hijab, shawl (saffron) both not allowed into college premises: Karnataka Home Minister

Wearing a hijab & shawl (saffron) both aren’t allowed into college premises. The state government has already clarified that students should wear the uniform approved by the college management, the Karnataka Home Minister said.

Hijab Row: Wearing hijab, shawl (saffron) both aren't allowed into college premises

As the hijab versus saffron scarves on campus gain intensity in the state, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has now announced students will have to follow uniform orders issued by the state government.

“Wearing a hijab & shawl (saffron) both aren’t allowed into college premises. The state government has already clarified that students should wear the uniform approved by college management. Everyone should follow it. All are equal and children of Mother India,” Jnanendra said.

Meanwhile, two colleges also declare a holiday to avoid any communal trouble while another college allowed students to wear the hijab on campus but in separate classrooms. 

After several days of protest by hijab-wearing students outside the gates, the Government Junior PU college in Kundapur in Udipi district allowed the young women on campus this morning but controversially seated them in separate classrooms without any lessons. However, college officials said that this was done to avoid overcrowding outside the gate. 

The Principal, Ramakrishna GJ, has also reemphasized that students could attend classes only after removing the hijab. But the women remained firm that they will not remove their hijab in class. At the Kalavara Varadaraj M Shetty Government First Grade College, Kundapur, students who were wearing hijab were sent home.

"We sent the students back home. We had advised them to enter classes without the hijab. They refused. So we asked them to leave. We have requested them to wait for the High Court order tomorrow," said Usha Devi, Vice Principal.

When it was pointed out that some students did wear the hijab previously, before the controversy, she said: "There were a few students who used to attend classes in hijab. We did not have a problem then."  She denied any pressure but said the college wanted to "avoid any issues".

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