Students must follow school uniform code: Union Minister amid Hijab row
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New Delhi: Amid the simmering 'hijab' row in Karnataka, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that the dress code permitted by the schools or administration must be followed by the students diligently.
"All students must follow the dress code prescribed by the schools or administration. Law and order must be maintained in the state. We need to see who are these people instigating the students," Mr Joshi told ANI.
Calling the Hijab row in Karnataka a "non-issue", Joshi said that the protests over the issue are being carried out on political support.
"Whether it is a girl or boy student, can either of them do protests without any political support?" news agency ANI quoted Joshi as saying.
His remark came as protests for and against the hijab intensified at colleges in different parts of Karnataka. When asked as to who were those inciting the students for not abiding by the dress code, the Union Minister said "some politicians and fanatics have made it an issue".
The Hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes wearing a hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women).
On Monday, students of different colleges arrived that Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura wearing saffron stoles amid the Hijab row in Karnataka.
The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.
Following these protests, a three-day holiday from February 9 to 11 has been declared in all the universities under the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE).