BJP MLA alleges CFI hand in hijab row, demands NIA probe

Udupi: BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat has demanded the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the Campus Front of India (CFI) party for what he claimed was their role in the recent hijab controversy in Karnataka colleges. The six girls who began the protest for allegedly being barred from class for wearing hijab were innocent and were "trained" by the CFI as part of the conspiracy, he alleged.

"I have demanded the NIA probe as it is an international conspiracy. No Muslim country is against us except Pakistan. Hijab can't be banned in Udupi. It is their religious right but in schools, the uniform should be followed," he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Earlier on Saturday, Bhat, who is also a president of the college development committee at Women's Government PU College, had said, "Campus Front of India (CFI) wants political gain. Our six girls are innocent but in their control. They had special training in a hidden place."

A meeting of various organisations was held at Udupi on Sunday to discuss ways to maintain peace in the district in the wake of the hijab-saffron shawl row, PTI reported. According to the report, the CFI did not send representatives to the meeting which was chaired by Bhat. Bhat said that the meeting was fruitful as all involved had agreed to maintain peace and crack down on untoward incidents until the High Court verdict.

The allegations of CFI conspiracy to provoke Muslim students to protest was echoed by Yashpal Suvarna, vice president of the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) in Udupi.

The girls wore school uniforms inside the classroom earlier and sat with other students in the class, however, they started demanding to wear hijab since November 2021, he alleged, adding that the CFI was behind that particular demand.

However, CFI state president Athavullah Punjalkatte told reporters that the entire issue was orchestrated and kept alive by ABVP and Sangh Parivar outfits who had given students saffron shawls and encouraged them to heckle Muslim students.

"In the name of opposing Hijab, Bhagwa flag was hoisted at the pole meant for hoisting the national flag. The students were instigated to shout the Jai Shri Ram slogan. A student was waylaid at Mandya and at Madikeri a student was stabbed for not agreeing to wear saffron. All this happened at a time in the state which indicates that Sangh Parivar was behind all these," he alleged.

Meanwhile, amid the hijab row protests, Section 144 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) has been imposed in Udipi district for six days starting from February 14 to 19. The Supreme Court has said it is keeping a watchful eye on the state until petitions regarding the use of hijab in classrooms are heard and a verdict delivered by the High Court.