A government college in Karnataka’s Udupi district has banned students from wearing hijab inside the classroom for almost a month. Seven Muslim college students, who demanded that they be allowed to attend classes wearing hijab, have been denied admission.
The principal of Government Women’s Pre-University College, Udupi, has said that the ban was being implemented to maintain “uniformity”.
The college has around 700 students including 70 Muslim students studying in science, arts and commerce branches. Initially, there were 12 Muslim students who demanded that they be allowed to wear the hijab during class hours, but that number has since dropped to seven. Those who are still protesting the ban say that others threatened not to issue hall tickets for the final exams. According to the college, students are allowed to wear hijab till the start of classes. “We are demanding our fundamental rights,” said a protesting student.
talking to Indian Express“Girls are allowed to wear hijab and burqa until they reach their desks, but once class starts, they have to remove it,” said college principal Rudra Gowda.
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