SHIVAMOGGA/ MADIKERI: Thirteen class 10 students of Government High School on BH Road in Shivamogga city skipped a preparatory exam on Monday after they refused to enter the classroom without their hijab.
School authorities had allotted a separate room for Muslim students to remove their hijab and enter classrooms. The school has 160 students in classes 8 to 10, and attendance was thin. The 13 students had appealed to school authorities to allow them to wear the hijab in the classroom, but the staff refused. MN Ramesh, deputy director of public instruction (DDPI), Shivamogga, also arrived and tried to convince the girls. But they refused and walked out, the authorities said. “The high court has yet to issue an order, but school authorities are asking us to remove our hijabs in school,” said Alia Mehta, one of the students. “If they continue to force us to remove our hijabs, we will drop out of school. ,
30 in Kodagu return home Meanwhile, 30 students of Karnataka Public School in Nellihudikeri, Kodagu district, returned home after they too refused to remove their hijab. The students’ parents said they will wait for the final order from the HC. Most students of the school are Muslims. Students were stopped at the school gate where staff requested them to obey the high court’s interim order.
Mandya/Mysuru
Video footage of students being asked to remove hijabs at the gates of a private school in Mandya was widely shared on social media, but there was no untoward incident reported. Students were permitted to enter after they removed the headscarf.
“Officials of our department visited the school and directed staff to ensure such incidents are not repeated,” said ST Javaregowda, Mandya DDPI. He said no controversies were reported from any other school in the district.
Abdul Majeed, SDPI state president, was critical of the incident, saying: “How can girls be asked to remove their hijab on the road? Constitutional and individual rights of students are under attack. ,
The situation was normal in neighboring Chamarajanagar district too. SN ManjunathDDPI, said it was just another normal school day.
In Mysuru, three students of a school on the outskirts were barred from entering the classroom after they refused to remove hijabs. “Although senior officers tried to con- vince them, they refused to listen,” said Ramachandra Raje UrsMysuru DDPI.
Elsewhere in the district, on-campus classes continued smoothly. As a precautionary measure, there was heavy police presence around schools, but they – fortunately – had little to do.
Udupi
Ground Zero of the hijab v/s saffron shawl row remained calm on Monday. In a heartening sight, students of different faiths walked hand in hand into Government PU College for Girls. Police presence was heavy. While students were excited to be back on campus, many were taken aback on seeing cameramen and police personnel on the campus. Some parents who came to drop their children appeared worried, but their fears were unfounded.
Regular classes continued smoothly at Kundapur Junior College. A faculty member said, “Everything was fine. The protests caught us by surprise, but some students, especially those in the PU (Science) section, were keen to return and pursue their studies. Govinda Madival, Udupi DDPI, said as many as 80 of his staff visited various schools as part of confidencebuilding measures. “Classes were held in all 295 high schools without any problem,” he said.
Hubballi
There was some confusion after reports suggested that a girl attended classes wearing a hijab with the slogan ‘Apna Time Ayega’ at Government Higher Primary Urdu School in Koul Pet, Hubballi. However, Shrishail KarikattiHubballi city BEO, clarified: “It was not a hijab but a scarf, which is also part
of the prescribed uniform. As soon as we were informed, we went to the school and spoke to teachers and students. The girl in question is in class 6 and she was wearing an old mask. She is from a poor family and stays with her grandmother. She had no idea what was written on her mask. Someone shot a video and shared it on social media. ,
Belagavi
Staff of the state-run Sardar High School allegedly asked three students to remove their burqa and hijab at the gates. A video of the alleged incident was shared on social media. Staff allegedly turned down requests from the students to remove their religious attire in the washroom. However, Basavaraja Nalathawada, DDPI, said: “This incident has not happened. I personally visited many schools. ,
However, the headmaster of the school said, “Some college students arrived at the gates mistaking that they had classes and were sent back,” he said. He said other students were asked to remove hijab inside washrooms.
(Inputs by Udaya Sagar in Shivamogga, G Rajendra in Madikeri, Shrinivasa M in Mysuru, Deepthi Sanjiv in Udupi, Sangamesh Menasinakai in Hubballi & Shreyas HS in Belagavi)
School authorities had allotted a separate room for Muslim students to remove their hijab and enter classrooms. The school has 160 students in classes 8 to 10, and attendance was thin. The 13 students had appealed to school authorities to allow them to wear the hijab in the classroom, but the staff refused. MN Ramesh, deputy director of public instruction (DDPI), Shivamogga, also arrived and tried to convince the girls. But they refused and walked out, the authorities said. “The high court has yet to issue an order, but school authorities are asking us to remove our hijabs in school,” said Alia Mehta, one of the students. “If they continue to force us to remove our hijabs, we will drop out of school. ,
30 in Kodagu return home Meanwhile, 30 students of Karnataka Public School in Nellihudikeri, Kodagu district, returned home after they too refused to remove their hijab. The students’ parents said they will wait for the final order from the HC. Most students of the school are Muslims. Students were stopped at the school gate where staff requested them to obey the high court’s interim order.
Mandya/Mysuru
Video footage of students being asked to remove hijabs at the gates of a private school in Mandya was widely shared on social media, but there was no untoward incident reported. Students were permitted to enter after they removed the headscarf.
“Officials of our department visited the school and directed staff to ensure such incidents are not repeated,” said ST Javaregowda, Mandya DDPI. He said no controversies were reported from any other school in the district.
Abdul Majeed, SDPI state president, was critical of the incident, saying: “How can girls be asked to remove their hijab on the road? Constitutional and individual rights of students are under attack. ,
The situation was normal in neighboring Chamarajanagar district too. SN ManjunathDDPI, said it was just another normal school day.
In Mysuru, three students of a school on the outskirts were barred from entering the classroom after they refused to remove hijabs. “Although senior officers tried to con- vince them, they refused to listen,” said Ramachandra Raje UrsMysuru DDPI.
Elsewhere in the district, on-campus classes continued smoothly. As a precautionary measure, there was heavy police presence around schools, but they – fortunately – had little to do.
Udupi
Ground Zero of the hijab v/s saffron shawl row remained calm on Monday. In a heartening sight, students of different faiths walked hand in hand into Government PU College for Girls. Police presence was heavy. While students were excited to be back on campus, many were taken aback on seeing cameramen and police personnel on the campus. Some parents who came to drop their children appeared worried, but their fears were unfounded.
Regular classes continued smoothly at Kundapur Junior College. A faculty member said, “Everything was fine. The protests caught us by surprise, but some students, especially those in the PU (Science) section, were keen to return and pursue their studies. Govinda Madival, Udupi DDPI, said as many as 80 of his staff visited various schools as part of confidencebuilding measures. “Classes were held in all 295 high schools without any problem,” he said.
Hubballi
There was some confusion after reports suggested that a girl attended classes wearing a hijab with the slogan ‘Apna Time Ayega’ at Government Higher Primary Urdu School in Koul Pet, Hubballi. However, Shrishail KarikattiHubballi city BEO, clarified: “It was not a hijab but a scarf, which is also part
of the prescribed uniform. As soon as we were informed, we went to the school and spoke to teachers and students. The girl in question is in class 6 and she was wearing an old mask. She is from a poor family and stays with her grandmother. She had no idea what was written on her mask. Someone shot a video and shared it on social media. ,
Belagavi
Staff of the state-run Sardar High School allegedly asked three students to remove their burqa and hijab at the gates. A video of the alleged incident was shared on social media. Staff allegedly turned down requests from the students to remove their religious attire in the washroom. However, Basavaraja Nalathawada, DDPI, said: “This incident has not happened. I personally visited many schools. ,
However, the headmaster of the school said, “Some college students arrived at the gates mistaking that they had classes and were sent back,” he said. He said other students were asked to remove hijab inside washrooms.
(Inputs by Udaya Sagar in Shivamogga, G Rajendra in Madikeri, Shrinivasa M in Mysuru, Deepthi Sanjiv in Udupi, Sangamesh Menasinakai in Hubballi & Shreyas HS in Belagavi)
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