MANGALURU: The hijab row resurfaced in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada on Thursday after several students of University College in Mangaluru's Hampankatta staged a flash protest demanding implementation on complete ban of hijab in the campus.
A week ago, Mangalore University syndicate body meeting, held in Bengaluru, had officially approved strict implementation of uniform rules in all its six constituent colleges.
Earlier, Muslim girl students at University College were allowed to wear hijab using uniform shawl. The same is mentioned in the college prospectus. However, the syndicate meeting had suddenly decided to ban wearing hijab using uniform shawl, both inside and outside the classrooms.
Though it was officially ordered to be implemented in all colleges especially University College last week, the college authorities were not able to impose it completely as there was resentment from Muslim girls.
Some Muslim girls did follow but others were not willing to adhere to the rules.
Few of them are not attending classes. The college has about 1,900 students including 44 Muslim girls.
“Irked by Muslim girls not adhering to the rules, the college union backed by ABVP staged a flash protest and demanded that all must follow recent syndicate decision,” said a college professor, on condition of anonymity.
College principal Anasuya Rai said that all the students have been communicated about the recent syndicate decision which does not allow wearing hijab inside and outside the classroom using uniform shawl. Some Muslim girls have agreed but some are showing resentment claiming that it is illegal and done in between the academic year.
