Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (SP/HB/DV)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Feb 16: After over a week of the closure of schools and colleges in the state, the state government decided to reopen the schools and colleges from Wednesday February 16, in the midst of the hijab controversy surrounding the dress code rule.

The colleges reopened after the government had ordered the closure of colleges to contain the clashes over the hijab- saffron shawl row in some parts of the state.

It may be recalled, deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra KV on Tuesday had instructed the principals of colleges to ask the students to adhere to the high court's order. He had also asked to the principals to maintain law and order situation by coordinating with jurisdictional police.

Mangaluru

Udupi

Though Dakshina Kannada is perceived as the most communal sensitive area, most of the government and private PU colleges seem to be unaffected by the hijab- saffron shawl row.

C D Jayanna, DDPU, DK speaking to daijiworld.com said, "There are 197 private and government colleges across the district. I have visited a few colleges. Everything is peaceful in the district and students are attending the classes in the colleges.”

As many as 23 students of the government PU college at Kundapur who had fought demanding permission to wear Hijabs have been absent from classes today. At the same time, a holiday has been declared for the PU class of MGM College here.

The last time the 23 girl students had agitated, a facility to sit in a separate room had been made. When they were sent outside the gate, a controversy had arisen.

In Udupi, the six Muslim girl students who fought tooth and nail asserting their right to wear the Hijabs inside the classes have remained away from their classes today. This information was given by the principal of the college, Rudre Gowda.

The other Muslim girl students who attended the college got seated inside the classes duly removing their burqas and Hijabs. Classes are being held normally.