Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP/JD/KR)
Udupi, Feb 8: The Muslim girl students of MGM College here have kept the Hijab controversy alive by refusing to obey the instructions of the principal.
The girl students wearing burqas and Hijab entered the college here on Monday February 8. They held a protest inside the college premises and raised slogans asserting that wearing of Hijabs is within their rights.
The male students have made preparations to attend their classes duly wearing the saffron shawls in retaliation. Many girl students supported their male counterparts by wearing saffron shawls and coming together in front of the college compound. They insisted that if the Muslim girl students are allowed to attend the college with Hijabs, they should be permitted to wear saffron shawls.
An air of confusion prevailed inside the college compound. The management has locked the college gate. Hindu students wearing headgears are waiting near the gate while the Muslim students with burqas are also waiting there.
The college administration had instructed the students to remove their burqas and keep them aside in the restrooms but Hindu students have demanded that this should not be allowed.
The principal, Dr Devidas Nayak, arrived on the spot. The teaching staff have been trying to convince the students to relent. But both sides are unwilling to climb down from their stands. A large posse of the policemen are stationed at the spot to offer protection.
The students inside the campus and outside were heard raising slogans like 'Vande Mataram', 'we want justice' etc.
Teachers, principal and the police department are trying to convince both the parties, but in vain. All students were sent out of the campus.
Udupi tahsildar visited the spot. The college gate has been closed. Talks are in progress inside the college between the college management and district administration.
The principal spoke to both the parties after the meeting. The college will remain closed until further notification.
The students were at the spot even after holiday was declared. Police are trying to disburse the crowd.