Hijab: Karnataka minister blames Opposition for stirring controversy

Bengaluru: Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh asked the protesting Muslim girls of a government college in Udupi, who were forbidden to wear hijab, to follow the dress code set by School Development and Monitoring Committee. He said that as the election are around, the opposition is trying to woo voters by polarizing the voters, NDTV reported.

The minister's response comes after three weeks of six Muslim girls in a state government college denied permission to attend classes stating wearing hijabs in the class cannot be allowed. He said that the uniform is placed to avoid complications, and the practice has been followed for the last 36 years. The majority of students in the institution are Muslims, 94 of them have no issues regarding uniform code but the protesting six, he said. He requested those protesting to follow the dress code.

In the meantime, a recent report by The Hindustan Gazette quoted the girls that they were threatened by teachers that they will be pushed out of the class.

The Udupi Assistant Commissioner will meet the college principal and protesting students on Wednesday.

'After they were denied permission to enter class, the protesting girls sought Popular Front of India (PFI) student's wing Campus Front'shelp. PFI Karnataka accused certain colleges of creating controversies over the hijab, consequently violating Muslim's freedom to practice their religion.

After the Uduppi college issue emerged, students in another college came up with saffron-coloured scarves to protest hijabs. One of the protesters told PTI that hijabs were banned in their college three years ago after a similar controversy, but some have started wearing them again recently.