Hijab Row Resurfaces: Students Sent Back By Principal

Mangaluru: As the hijab row resurfaced in Karnataka, a group of girls who turned up at a Mangaluru college wearing headscarves were sent back by the principal on Saturday.

In a video recorded on Saturday, Anusuya Rai, the college principal, is seen convincing the students about uniform rules.

Following protests on Friday, claiming that some Muslim students were attending classes wearing hijabs, the Mangalore University issued an advisory to students about wearing uniforms and not allowing hijabs inside classrooms.

In a meeting convened by College Development Council (CDC) with the Vice-Chancellor, principal and members of the syndicate of Mangalore University, it was decided that the March 15 Karnataka High Court order will be enforced and hijabs will notbe allowed inside classrooms.

As for Saturday’s incident, Vice-Chancellor Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya said that suitable arrangements will be made for the transfer of the girls to other colleges where uniforms are not compulsory and hijabs are allowed.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said that the issue has been resolved at the syndicate meeting through deliberations.

“The court has delivered its orders on the hijab issue and everyone should obey the court orders. The students should follow the orders of the College Development Committee (CDC) in PU colleges and the College Administrative Board or the principal in colleges which do not have the CDC. In Universities, the decision of the syndicate should be adhered to. It is better for students to focus on their studies than on these controversies,” Bommai said.