Karnataka Hijab row: Muslim students defy govt order to shun 'hijab'

Despite the Karnataka government forming a highlevel committee to decide on the hijab row and uniform code the stalemate continued in the state with Muslim students refusing to attend classes without veilMeanwhile Education Minister BC Nagesh and local BJP MLA Raghupathy Bhat on Thursday termed it an international conspiracyThe Muslim students of the Government Girls College of Udupi in Karnataka have refused to shun hijab and attend classes in uniform until the report of the highlevel committee formed in this regard is submitted They have also flatly refused to attend classes online as suggested by local BJP MLA Raghupathy BhatThe Government Order in this regard directed the students to maintain status quo with the normal uniform until the further orderThe Education Minister questioned that why this kind of problems arise only few pockets of the country these problems arise The forces against the nation are behind this he opinedThe debate on uniform has been carried out throughout the country Elders have made uniforms so that no child feels inferior In Udupi College School Management and Development Committee SDMC has made a rule since 1985 Parents teachers are conveyed with this message But few students are protestingThe government has considered this very seriously and a highlevel committee has been formed to decide on the uniform Till then no education institute in the state whether government or private cant change rules regarding uniform The institutions are being given right to continue with their earlier guidelines he statedOnce the report is submitted the matter will be discussed with the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and until then status quo has to be maintained he explainedRaghupathy Bhat Udupi BJP MLA stated that the matter is being resolved cordially If the issue is left to the parents and students of the college and Muslims of Udupi it can be resolved in one hour It is not a problem at all The problem is created by outsiders he saidThe uniform problem suddenly surfaced after Social Democratic Party of India SDPI won three seats in Kapu local elections There is a big conspiracy he addedAH Almas the protesting student when asked about attending online classes stated that they are science students and required to attend lab classes and how will they be able to learn it online When asked about them being asked to go to the college of their choice where hijab is allowed she asked why they should go to other college as they are studying in a government collegeWe are not being allowed sit outside the classroom and hear lecturing If we discuss with any of our classmates on studies and get notes they will be called to chamber and warned not to help us We are harassed Those who are now not wearing hijabs will also start wearing if it is allowed It is a very shameful matter for the government officials to not allow us to attend classes as they are not allowing our fundamental rights Almas and other protesting students explainedThe Campus Front of India issued a statement that it vehemently condemns the governments idea of banning the hijab in colleges that are contrary to the constitutions intent The government should take necessary steps to address this issue and allow students to wear hijab with uniformsDespite the issue being discussed at national and international levels the silence of the department of undergraduate education who should have intervened is causing suspicion towards the department The minister of Educations irresponsible statement that the hijab is indisciplined results from a sense of religious intolerance too While looking into these series of events it is clear that the government and the Department of Undergraduate Education who should upheld justice have continued to be unjust Their inaction will be legally questioned stated State President Athaulla PunjalkatteThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever