BENGALURU / MYSURU: Police on Friday lodged an FIR against students seeking entry into the college despite an interim order from the Karnataka High Court, after the first disciplinary action banned the wearing of hijab, saffron shawls or any religious attire inside the classroom. 20 students of Tumakuru College accused of violating the ban.
A historic private college in the city of Mysore on Friday revoked its uniform rule for Muslim students to attend classes with hijab. The first college in the state took such a decision. “Four students refused to go to class without hijab and protested,” said DK Srinivas Murthy, DDPU, Mysore. “Some organizations have increased their support. I visited the college today and talked to everyone. Meanwhile, the college has announced that it is repealing its uniform rules to allow students to attend classes. ”
The first FIR follows a warning from Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gyanendra, who said there would no longer be a “soft spot” and directed the police to take action against those who disobeyed the interim order. The principal of Tumakuru Express College, about 70 km from Bangalore, has lodged a complaint with the Tumakuru City Police against the students for violating the ban in the last two days.
After the hijab, the students went on strike demanding the right to go to class and caused a commotion in the college. In Kodagu, about 250 km from Bangalore, Muslim male students at Field Marshal KM Kariyappa College in Madikeri said they would not enter the campus unless hijab-wearing girls were allowed inside. The hijab spread to more colleges in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Friday – Milgrace College, Kalyanpur, Udupi, Kavur First Grade College in Mangalore and Government First Grade College in Dakshina Kannada Puttur Taluk. Jidekallur government has declared a first class college holiday after three students refused to take off their hijabs.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah had requested CM Bomai a day after the government issued a circular to revoke the ban on hijab in minority organizations./Times of India
