Ban on scarf: Principal to get notice
Government college in Uppinangady buckles on burqa issue after students protest
Notice will be served on the principal of Sri Venkatramana Swamy (SVS) College in Bantwal, which restricted a Muslim girl from entering into the classroom wearing headscarf, said Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj.
After receiving complaint from Aysha Ashmin, first year BCom student of the college, Ponnuraj said that report will be sought from the college and a letter will be sent to the government. “I will ask the government to issue directions to the college in connection with the incident. Measures will be taken to ensure personal freedom within the campus and also for building confidence among students,” he added.
SP Dr A Subramanyeshwar Rao, who was present at the DC Office, promised that all measures will be taken to ensure peace in the region. Aysha Ashmin, who was accompanied by her father B Mohammed, explained her woes to the deputy commissioner and SP.
Principal’s version
SVS College Principal Dr Seetharam Mayya told reporters here that there is an ‘organisation’ which put pressure on students to demand ban on headscarf and burqa inside the campus.
However, he refused to mention the name of the organisation which put pressure on them. “If we allow a Muslim girl to wear headscarf inside classes, tomorrow they will demand a place to perform ‘namaz’ on the campus. Hence, we are going to introduce a dress code inside the college,” he said at a press meet.
When asked about the legality of banning headscarf and burqa in the college, Mayya said, “We will have to verify it.”
To a question, he said that the institute will also restrict ‘Ayyappa vrithadharis’ from wearing black dhotis and shawls once the dress code was introduced.
In another development, a government college in Uppinangady in the district has allowed Muslim students to wear burqa (hijab) on the campus when they staged protest opposing the restriction.
About 50 Muslim students in the Government First Grade College in Uppinangady were protesting against the college’s decision on restricting girls from wearing burqa in the college for the past two days. But the issue has been solved amicably by the college authorities and girls were allowed to wear burqa in the college on Wednesday.
‘Minor incident’
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali refused to comment on the incident saying, “It is a minor incident. In London if Indians are found wearing scarf they will be asked to remove it. A section of the media is blowing the issue out of proportion,” he said.
Home Minister V S Acharya, replying on the same lines, said the girl was barred entry as per the institution’s dress code.
