Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai called on students to adhere to rules issued by the state government on uniforms with the Karnataka High Court set to hear a plea against the hijab ban in several junior colleges. The students have said in a plea that the ban violates the right to freedom of religion enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution. “For now, the instructions on uniforms issued in the circular (of February 5) should be followed until the High Court decides on the issue. Exams are coming up and all students must follow the circular. Students must maintain peace,” said Bommai.
Education Minister B C Nagesh said the students were allowed to enter the college to prevent the “nuisance” caused by their protest on the road. “The college has allowed them to sit in a room. There were no separate classes for them. We do not want those girls to sit on roads, and it is Indian culture that we respect women. We don’t have Pakistan’s tradition. The students come to college to gain knowledge and they need to follow the law of the land…” One of the hijab-wearing students said: “We were made to sit in a separate room and were not allowed to attend any class. No one taught us, either. It (hijab) is part of Islamic tradition and it has been followed for ages. Our seniors in the college were wearing it and we do not know how suddenly the government decided to ban it.”
