Hijab is right; our grievances must be heard: Muslim girls

Mangaluru: Muslim girl students in Karnataka's Mangaluru, who were stopped from entering college campus, said that hijab is a matter of their rights, higher authorities should pay attention to their grievances and act accordingly.

Muslim girls students met media on Friday after a fresh row erupted in Mangalore University College in Hampankatta. They told reporters that they would fight for justice without losing hope, Daijiworld Media Network reported.

One of the students explained that their college principal sent a text message through WhatsApp stating that no students wearing hijab would be allowed to enter classes. To this, the students called for an official statement and only after multiple requests, saying that they could not take the WhatsApp statement as official, did the principal reply to them that she was helpless and had no authority to act on it.

The student told reporters that they were asked to meet the deputy commissioner, but which was in vain. When some teachers allowed them in classes, others refused, and over everything, students' atrocities also followed, she said. When some began to wear saffron shawls, others took hijab worn girls' pictures and videos on their phones and even went to the extent of picking up fights without reason, the girl lamented. She added that some came to campus for the sole aim of protesting intoxicated.

They were not even allowed to copy notes in libraries.

The girl said that they want the dress code to be followed as it is in the prospectus. It's been two months after the high court issued the order, and the restrictions in their college were implemented only now, which is out of the pressure from ABVP, BJP's student wing, she said.

The girl students, who were present at the press meet, demanded that the higher authorities should pay attention to their grievances and act accordingly.