Karnataka hijab row: BJP MLA asks students to not enter college with hijab

Udupi (Karnataka): Stating that 'academic environment can't be spoiled', MLA and Government PU College Development Committee president Raghupathy Bhat on Monday issued an ultimatum to eight Muslim girl students asking them to choose either offline (without Hijab) or online classes by Tuesday.

"We have told them clearly that, otherwise, from tomorrow, you come only if you have decided to come to class without a hijab. You can't come to the premises of the college and spoil the college academic environment. We have also informed police regarding entry of media and other organisations into the campus," he stated.

Raghupathi Bhat, was speaking to reporters after holding a meeting at the Government Girls Pre-University College in Udupi.

Bhat said the parents of other students, studying in the college, had complained that the raging controversy over the headscarf was destroying the learning environment in the college. "The college has become a centre of controversy," he said.

He added that a meeting has been conveyed with the parents, lecturers and School Development and Management Committee regarding the controversy. The students who wanted to wear hijab with uniform were also called... four of them along with their parents participated."

They were told, hijab cannot be allowed and they will have to wait until the submission of the committee report.

They can come to the campus in hijab and they will have to take off hijab in the classroom.

"Fifty per cent of them agreed, it seems. They told us they will get back to us on the issue by tomorrow (Tuesday)," he added.

The order says old guidelines should be continued. The students can attend classes, if they want to without hijab.

Meanwhile, one among the students demanding permission to attend classes with hijab has moved to High Court. Resham Farooq, the student has requested declaration of the wearing of hijab as a fundamental right under articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution.