The Hijab Controversy: Here's What Is Happening Across The Country

The row over the hijab continues to wreak havoc across the country, especially in Karnataka. It has spiked in the schools in the state on Tuesday after it was learnt that students at some schools in Udupi and Shivamogga district refused to appear for the exams as they were not allowed inside the exam hall for wearing hijab.

Those who were not allowed inside the exam hall included two students from a state-run school in Udupi. One of the parents of the student told NDTV that the school threatened the girl with police action if she refused to remove the hijab.

BCCL

Speaking to the news channel, the parents said the hijab ban was not there before and added that the children were made to sit in separate rooms. The parent further stated that the teachers on Monday shouted at the children for wearing the hijab to exam hall.

The parent also alleged that the school said 'those in hijab sit outside, those without attend classes'.

Loggerheads

However, a district official refuted the allegation and told news agency ANI that students wearing hijabs were not made to sit separately.

"Our children want to wear the hijab and they want an education. Hindu students wear vermilion... Christian students wear a rosary (so) what is wrong if our children wear the hijab?" the parent asked.

BCCL

This comes as high schools reopened in Karnataka on Monday, February 14. Now, tweets from across the state have surfaced, showing students and teachers allegedly being forced to remove their burqas and hijabs.

Educational institutes shut in Karnataka since Feb 9

All educational institutions in Karnataka had been shut since last Wednesday, February 9, after a pre-university collegeĄ¯s decision to bar girl students in hijabs from entering the classroom led to protests and counter-agitations across the state, and later, India.

Reuters

The Karnataka high court, the interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the hijab row, had restrained all students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab and any religious flag within the classroom.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had noted on Sunday that the decision regarding reopening of pre-university and degree colleges will be taken after assessing the situation.

In Udupi, tehsildar Pradeep Kurudekar, who visited a few schools, told the news agency PTI that Muslim students were abiding by the high courtĄ¯s interim order by removing hijabs before entering classes.

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