Can't encourage religious slogans on campus: B C Nagesh

Primary and Secondary Education minister B C Nagesh contended that the girl who was heckled at PES College, Mandya during the anti-hijab protests held Tuesday, had provoked male students.

"When the girl was coming outside, (male) students were going inside. They did not want to gherao that girl. But, when she was shouting 'Allahu Akbar' there was not even a single student around her," he said.

"Why did she provoke by saying Allahu Akbar in college campus. We shouldn't encourage (such slogans), whether it is Jai Shri Ram or Allahu Akbar," he said.

Read | Ruining our education over a piece of cloth, says Muslim girl who confronted saffron shawl-clad men in Mandya

He was reacting to the viral video of a student named Muskan, who was heckled by men with saffron shawls opposed to the hijab. In the video, she is seen parking her scooter and heading for classes when a group of students raise Jai Shri Ram slogan and advanced towards the girl.

In response, the girl faced the group of students and raised Allahu Akbar slogan before walking towards the class. Students protesting the hijab continued to follow her and tried to surround the girl before which college authorities intervened.

The video of the incident went viral on social media on Tuesday, with several people lauding her courageous stance while faced with a large number of protesting men.

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