Karnataka hijab row: Lathi charge, stone pelting & slogan shouting

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi was forced to announce leave until further orders after hundreds of students gathered outside the college, only to be given police protection later. Student protests continued at the Government Girls PU College in Udupi where the protests first erupted when six girl students were prevented from attending classes because they were wearing the hijab. While a group of hijab-wearing girls staged a protest to be allowed into the college, on the other hand, other students donned saffron scarves and shouted the “Jai Sri Ram” slogan. 

 

The principal of the Udupi college urged students to wait for the high court order, which is hearing a plea filed by the six girl students, and honour it. “Please go home, stay at home. Concentrate on your studies. Till the management announces its decision based on what the high court’ calls, the college remains shut. Do not gather here,” he urged. 

 

In Shivamogga as well, students blocked one of the roads in the district, and one of the male students, who sported a saffron scarf, was injured after a stone was pelted. The student suffered minor head injuries. Later in the morning, students began pelting stones and the police was forced to lathi-charge.

 

Meanwhile, in Mandya, girl students wearing hijab in a Government College also stood outside the college and shouted slogans. 

 

Dr. BC Nagesh, minister for primary and secondary education also urged students to maintain calm till the high court took its decision. “One of the six protesting girls from the Udupi college has returned to college without the Hijab. She told the management that she was willing to attend class and said that national integrity meant more than religion for her.”