Students with saffron scarves seen at Karnataka college amid Hijab controversy

Despite heated protests in Karnataka by Muslim girls seeking to be allowed to wear hijab to class, a group of students adorned themselves with saffron scarves and marched to class as usual.

Boys and girls in Kundapur, in the Udupi district, can be seen wearing scarves over their college uniforms and chanting "Jai Shri Ram (Praise Lord Ram)" as they go to college. In addition to making national headlines, the protests sparked political debates, with Congress and the BJP both attacking each other over the issue.

Video clips of the incident show Muslim students wearing headscarves over their uniforms and a police car stationed near the college.

According to the videos, police broke up groups of saffron-clad protesters shouting slogans.

Students from the Government Junior College in Kundapur were shown in previously released videos arguing with their principal Ramakrishna GJ after they were denied entrance to the campus.

Officials say students can wear the hijab in class but not during lessons.

However, Araga Jnanendra, the Karnataka Home Minister, said that children should not wear hijab or saffron scarves to school.

"Schools are the place where children belonging to all religions should learn together and imbibe a feeling that we are not different, and all are children of Bharat Mata," Mr Jnanendra said.

"There are religious organisations who think otherwise, I have asked the police to keep a watch on them. Those who cause hindrance or undermine this country's unity, they have to be dealt with," he added.

After protests broke out at the PU Girls College in Udupi a month ago, this is now the second such confrontation in BJP-ruled Karnataka, with students still fighting to wear a hijab in class.

With many questioning the decision to not admit girls to the college, the protests have made national headlines.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted "we're robbing the future of the daughters of India" when referring to the college authorities' decision to not allow wearing hijab in the classroom.

"By letting students' hijab come in the way of their education, we are robbing the future of the daughters of India. Ma Saraswati gives knowledge to all. She doesn't differentiate," the Congress leader said on the occasion of Saraswati Puja.

Karnataka BJP reacted angrily to Gandhi's tweet by accusing him of "communalizing education".

"By communalising education, CONgress co-owner Rahul Gandhi has once again proved that he is dangerous to the future of India. If hijab is very much essential to get educated, why doesn't Rahul Gandhi make it mandatory in states ruled by CONgress?" said the Karnataka BJP on twitter.