In yet another instance of growing religious intolerance in Karnataka, a group of government college students in Kundapura and in Shivamogga on Wednesday, February 2 were seen sporting saffron shawls on their shoulders, in protest against Muslim students wearing hijab in the classroom.
In a video doing rounds on social media, a group of boys from the Government Junior College in Kundapur were seen wearing saffron shawls on their shoulders, triggering controversy. A meeting was also conducted by management along with local MlA with parents of the students. A parent of the girl student can be heard saying we didn't discriminate. We sent our students during all the #hindu festivals. Why is that you are discriminating with out students (2/2) pic.twitter.com/OSDbdravXM— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) February 2, 2022
Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty who arrived at the college held a meeting with the parents of Muslim students. Videos of the meeting show, parents telling the MLA it is their right to wear hijab and asking the administration not to interfere in their religious affairs.
“If you don’t want our students to wear Hijab in the college, let the Principal give written instructions for the same, and then we will decide whether to send our students to the college or not,” they are seen telling.
In another incident, students of Sir MV Government college in Bhadravati in Shivamogga district also donned saffron shawls to the college to protest against Muslim students wearing hijab.
This is the third incident taking place in Karnataka, over the last month, over Muslim students wearing hijabs to colleges.
For the past four weeks, Muslim students at the Government Women’s PU college in Udupi, Karnataka, have not been allowed entry into classrooms for wearing a hijab.
Students have even been compelled to sit on stairs for donning the hijab.
One of the students filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court on 31 January, seeking a declaration that students have a right to wear a hijab, and for the college to be directed to allow them to attend their classes without interference.
