Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Aug 23: Raghupati Bhat, MLA of Udupi, countered the accusation made by CFI that due to Hijab controversy the Muslim girl students were being denied their right to education.

Countering the accusation, Bhat said, “We did not start the fight for Hijab. It was CFI which started the issue. In our college, right from olden days uniform code was followed. We had submitted the proof to the court about the uniform code prevailing in the college for 20 years. For the same reason we were victorious in the high court.

“Earlier the Muslim girl students used to come till classroom in Hijab and remove it while attending the lessons. CFI created the issue. That is why even in colleges where hijab was allowed inside the classrooms the students had to face issues. Now even those colleges, which were allowing hijab inside classrooms have prohibited the same. So CFI is responsible for the Muslim girl students being deprived of education," he alleged.

“Even today Muslim girl students are getting education in government pre-university college. We have felicitated the meritorious Muslim girl students. This year more number of Muslim girls are admitted to the college. The hijab controversy was created by CFI. Those girls who want to be educated are continuing without the hijab. Only religious fanatics are creating an issue out of this matter. We made uniform code mandatory. Hijab controversy was created by CFI,” he said.

The issue of installing the statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle is getting prominence. Hindu leader Yashpal Suvarna has appealed to the city municipality to install a statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle. Hindu Maha Sabha and Hindu Jagarana Vedike have also appealed for the same. Now the pressure on city municipality is mounting. The Hindu leaders had announced that they will install the statue at the spot of the banner.
The city municipality of Udupi is ruled by BJP. There is a possibility of arriving at a decision with regards to the statue of Savarkar in the next council meeting.

However, MLA Raghupati Bhat opined it was better to rename the circle as Savarkar circle than installing the idol. He said, “It is not right to install the statue. If someone vandalizes the statue, it will create one more controversy. I have written a letter to the city municipality to rename the circle as Savarkar circle. I will propose this in the next session of the city municipality. Definitely, Veer Savarkar circle will be formed in Udupi. In addition, we will make an Ambedkar circle also.”