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Hijab row could take vicious turn; principal gets life threat; students suspended

Terror outfit behind hijab crisis; students need to be careful: Minister warns

Agency Report | Bengaluru | 19 February, 2022 | 11:00 PM

The Principal of a Junior College in Karnataka's Madikeri district has lodged a police complaint against a man for issuing a life threat after he sent back hijab-clad students from the college. Meanwhile, at least 58 female students from a college in Karnataka's Shivamogga district have been suspended for wearing the hijab and also staging an agitation demanding that they should be allowed to attend classes. The students were from the Government Pre-University College of Shiralakoppa.

Based on the complaint of the Principal of Madikeri Junior College, Vijay, the Cyber Crime police have taken up the case for investigation.

The complaint has been lodged against one Mohammad Tousif, who has issued a life threat on social media. “You won’t live any longer,” the accused threatened. Principal Vijay explained that he had only tried to explain to children about the government order and the interim order of the Karnataka High Court.

“The children argued over the issue and back answered which hurt us. We are sad but they are innocent. There are good messages also. But, this person has abused and issued threats,” Vijay stated. The video of Principal Vijay, talking to girl students on a high pitch and directing the police to take action against them for wearing hijab and insisting on attending classes, had gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, Minister for Revenue R. Ashok alleged terror outfit ISIS’s hand behind the hijab row in the state. “It started in a small town, Udupi and how could it reach a global level in one week? The children can’t possibly do this,” he said.

An international terror organisation is instrumental in the hijab crisis. There is a terrorist organisation link which is operating in Pakistan, Iraq and Iran countries. School children need to be careful and they can’t take their religious practices to classes. There should neither hijab nor saffron shawl, he maintained.

“We can’t interrogate children all of a sudden for conspiracy on hijab row. We will take it easy. The investigation will be conducted in a phased manner. There is a need to expose terror elements behind the controversy and it will happen. The terror plot is to make children say that their religion is more important than education,” Minister Ashok stated.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai when asked about FIRs being lodged against students, said involvement of outsiders has led to so much of confusion. If college authorities, students and parents were to resolve the issue, it would have happened by now. “I will get details of all the cases and look into it,” he said.

Meanwhile, at least 58 female students from a college in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district were suspended on Saturday for wearing hijab and also staging an agitation demanding that they should be allowed to attend classes.
Although the college management, development committee tried to explain to the hijab-clad students the interim order of the High Court, they did not listen and pressed for wearing of hijab, according to the principal.

Hence, they were suspended from the college temporarily.

The enraged students got into arguments with college authorities, leading to an intervention by the police to disperse them.

Tension also prevailed in Belagavi, Yadgir, Bellary, Chitradurgam and Shiamogga districts when students wearing hijab demanded entry into the classrooms.

While the administration of Vijay Para-Medical College in Belagavi has declared a holiday for an indefinite period due to the protests, students of the SJVP College in Harihara boycotted classes after being denied entry to classrooms for hearing hijab.

Hijab-clad students also gathered in the playground of the Ballary Saraladevi College after they were turned out from classes. They refused to speak to the police and in turn asked not to be disturbed.

In Kodagu, hijab-clad students staged a protest holding placards before the gate of the college.

In a statement, state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said: “The hijab row is not in all colleges. Very few colleges are facing the agitations and they are being warned. Section 144 has been clamped in the surrounding areas of the colleges.”

Those who have violated it have been arrested and FIR has been lodged against many, he added.

The Minister further said there were communal forces behind the row who have been warned and cases were lodged against them.

If someone says constitution and court can be ignored, they will not be spared, he stated.

He stated that on Friday, minority community legislators submitted a memorandum to him regarding hijab row. “I have told them that school should have uniformity. I have asked them that jointly we should overcome this situation.”

Meawhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that he would get all the details regarding hijab row.

Education Minister B.C. Nagesh has said that Muslim community leaders are with the interim order issued by the court. “We will continue to explain to people about the interim order regarding the hijab row and most of them are following the order. There is a propaganda which is trying to put religion over education,” he said. (IANS)