Two colleges declared holiday to avoid communal trouble (File)
The controversy over headscarves in Karnataka has intensified, with students defying the government order to use uniform clothing to maintain "unity and equality". All schools and colleges in Karnataka will be shut for the next three days amid the row over wearing hijab by students.
Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai tweeted he has ordered all high schools and colleges to remain shut "to maintain peace and harmony". The Karnataka High Court is hearing petitions filed by five women from a government college in Udupi, questioning hijab restrictions.
The high court, which heard the matter today, will continue the hearing tomorrow. The court also asked students and the public at large to maintain peace. "This court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of public at large and it hopes that the same would be put to practice," Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad said.
Ahead of the High Court hearing on the row, Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai appealed to everyone to maintain peace. "The matter is before the High Court and it will be decided there... I appeal to everyone to maintain peace... All should follow the state's order (on uniform) until the court decides," he said.
The controversy started last month at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district as six students alleged that they had been barred from classes for wearing headscarf and many Muslim girls took up the practice in protest.
Right-wing groups in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru objected to headscarves and the protests spread across the state. In retaliation, many students turned up in saffron scarves. Dalit students adopted blue scarves in support of hijab-wearing girls.
Two colleges declared holiday to avoid communal trouble. Another college allowed students wearing the hijab in separate classrooms.
Education Minister BC Nagesh has said students who insist on wearing hijab (head scarves) not be allowed into government educational institutions. He also ordered that women protesters be confined to a separate room of the colleges.
Here are the Highlights on Hijab Row:
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Congress, Other Opposition Parties Walk Out Of Lok Sabha Over Hijab Row Opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament in protest over the Karnataka hijab row.
Several protests have erupted in Karnataka after some students were allegedly denied entry to college wearing hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women earlier this month.
The political parties that staged a walkout of the Lower House include Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Karnataka High Court Appeals Students, Public To Maintain Peace
Karnataka High Court on Tuesday appealed student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity while hearing various pleas challenging a ban on hijab in the state. The appeal came after the Advocate General apprised the court that there are some parallel agitations.
Advocate General urged the High Court to issue an interim order that there should be no public protests or demonstrations.
Appearing for petitioners, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, also apprised the Court about a video where a girl in hijab was being chased by boys. He also said that it agreed with Advocate General that law and order should be maintained and assured that as far as petitioners are concerned, they will not hold any protests on the streets.
Advocate General said that since the court is already ceased the matter, the law should not be taken in hand by anyone.
The Court said that it requests the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity.
"This Court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of public at large and it hopes that the same would be put to practice," the Court said.
All students must follow the dress code prescribed by the schools/administration: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
All students must follow the dress code prescribed by the schools/administration. Law and order must be maintained in the State. We need to see who are these people instigating the students.
Congress Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Raises Hijab Controversy in Lok Sabha During Zero Hour
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the hijab controversy in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour. He demanded a statement from the house regarding the same.
Karnataka High Court Asks Citizens To Maintain Peace, Tranquility
The Karnataka High Court has requested the students community and public to maintain peace and tranquility. The case has been adjourned for further hearing on Wednesday.
Karnataka High Court Hearing On Plea Against Hijab Ban Ends For The Day, To Continue Tomorrow
Karnataka Hijab Row: Hearing ends for the day in High Court, to continue at 2.30 pm on Wednesday.
Situation In Some Karnataka Educational Institutions Has Gone Out Of Hand: DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar said that the situation in some educational institutions in the state has 'gone out of hand'.
All Concerned Are Requested To Cooperate: Karnataka Chief Minister
Video: In Hijab vs Saffron Scarves, Student Heckled In Karnataka College The hijab versus saffron scarf row in Karnataka colleges took a chilling form when a student in a burqa was heckled by a large group of slogan-shouting, saffron scarf-wearing boys in a college in Mandya.
The video of a confrontation between a Muslim student and a saffron-wearing group has emerged from the Mandya pre-University college.
In the video, the young woman parks her scooter and heads to the college building when students wearing saffron scarves shout "Jai Shri Ram" and advance towards her.
The Muslim student shouts back: "Allah hu Akbar!"
Caught On Camera: Group Hands Out Saffron Scarves At Karnataka CollegeAmid spiraling protests by Karnataka college students over their right to wear a hijab during classes, members of a state-based right-wing group have been caught on camera asking some students of a college in Udupi district to sneak saffron scarves into the college as a form of counter-protest.
NDTV confronted a member of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike after he was spotted persuading students of the SV College in Kundapur taluk to carry the saffron scarves in their bags; this was after Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said students should not wear hijabs or saffron scarves when in class.
Hijab vs Saffron At Karnataka College Ahead Of High Court HearingA massive crowd of students, one group wearing hijab and boys waving saffron scarves, gathered outside a college in Karnataka this morning in a snowballing confrontation on a day the High Court takes up a petition challenging a ban on the hijab on campus.
As two groups stood at the gates of the MGM college in Udupi, a large number of policemen were called in to control the chaos.
Students wearing saffron scarves and headgears were allowed to enter the college as young women in the hijab stayed outside the gates, protesting what they alleged was discrimination.