Hijab Controversy: Karnataka HC Appeals People To Maintain Peace

Udupi: The Karnataka High Court has appealed to students and people to maintain peace and tranquility as the Hijab controversy intensified in the state. The court posted the matter for Wednesday. A single bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit was hearing the petitions filed by some students studying in a Government Pre-University College for Girls in the coastal town of Udupi.

Groups of protesters threw stones at each other and students at a college put up a saffron flag today in the escalating hijab versus saffron scarves protests at Karnataka colleges, NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced the closure of all high schools and colleges in the state for the next three days. He has also appealed for peace. “I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate,” Bommai said in a tweet.

A section of Muslim girls is demanding permission to wear headscarves to college. The state government, on the other hand, is making uniforms mandatory for students attending classes in educational institutions. In several instances during the last few days, especially in coastal Karnataka, some Muslim girl students, turning up in Hijab, were not being allowed into classes, and Hindu boys and girls responded with saffron shawls, were also barred from classes.