Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Feb 16: Dr G Shankar government women's first grade college at Ajjarkad here witnessed verbal friction after on Wednesday February 16 after the principal asked over 20 girl students enter the classrooms without Hijabs as per the interim order of the high court.
He also got the others who were wearing the Hijabs seated in separate room and tried to convince them to follow the high court instructions.
One of the students, Afra, told the media that they are being pressured all of a sudden to follow the directions of the government. She said that right from the first day, they have been wearing the Hijabs and that the new decision was taken all of a sudden.
"Some Muslim girls are shedding tears while some more are leaving their classes," she said.
However, she later said that the college administration is supportive of the students and that they respect the stand taken the college. "We will go home today. The principal has promised to hold online classes. This confusion has arisen because of the court decision. None of us are protesting now. The college administrative council was polite in asking us to remove our Hijabs and to enter the college thereafter," she stated.
Principal of the college, Bhaskar Shetty, said that as per the court order, the students are not allowed to wear Hijabs when attending the classes, which he said, had been explained to the students and that the students have said they will wait for the court orders.
"Out of 2,326 girl students of the college, 196 are Muslims. 40 among them are against removing the Hijabs. We will take a decision about making alternative arrangements for the students who are not attending the classes. We will maintain the status quo till the high court order is received," Shetty stated. He further said that the students have been allowed to move around the college campus wearing the Hijabs.
One of the guardians of the girl students identified as Haneef, noted that the court has ordered to maintain status quo. He objected to the fact that the girl students were asked to remove their Hijabs seated separately. He added that he and other parents will not allow their children to remove the Hijabs, and said that because of the controversy, parents are fearful about sending the children to the college. He stated that he firmly believes religion to be an integral aspect of education and therefore Hijab must be allowed in classrooms.