Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)
Sullia, Sep 5: A large number of male students of Dr Shivaram Karanth government first grade college at Peruvaje, Bellare, have been attending college with a saffron shawl on their shoulders since the last several days, in protest against allowing girl students to wear hijab (scarf) around their faces when attending classes.
Although a meeting of college development committee and parents was held on Saturday September 3 in the college premises, a solution remained elusive.
After the meeting, principal of the college, Chandrashekhar Kanthamangala, said that the meeting resolved to try to convince the students not to wear anything other than the college uniform. It is gathered that parents raised serious objection to this decision as there was no clarity on the stand. They barged into the chamber of the principal and urged him to take a clear stand. However, at the end, the meeting ended without a clear stance.
Addressing the meeting, Subhashchandra Thota said that the student leader of the college is expected to protect students when they face external threats, and the leader should not wedge differences among the students. Parents of students like Deekshit, Yathish Kumar, Sathish Kaniyur and Srinath felt that students should be barred from wearing Hijab as well as shawls when attending classes. Ismail said that as per the religious diktat, wearing of hijab is compulsory.
MLA, S Angara, who also happens to be the president of college development committee, presided. He felt that everyone should respect the rule about wearing of uniform and religious beliefs and issues should not be brought into the educational institutions. He asked people not to create undue confusion, give prominence to become large-hearted and educated persons, and always think about future of students.
Vice president of the committee, S N Manmatha, members, Ramesh Shetty, Anil Rai, president of teahers-parents association, Vasant Borkar, and others were present.