Hijab row: After protests, MP college issues notice to avoid "religion-specific" attire

As Hijab row intensified, an automous postgraduate government college in Madhya Pradesh on Monday issued circular urging students to avoid "religion-specific outfits", especially Hijab, inside institute premises. signed order by principal of college in Datia district came after saffron-shawl-clad youngsters protested against two students over wearing Hijab inside establishment.

Reportedly, incident took place after young demonstrators associated with Hindutva ideologist supporters, including VHP, Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini, stormed Agrani Government Automous PG College in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh. students std protests against two girls wearing Hijab inside college premises. college administration, led by principal DR Rahul, later tried to identify students wearing Hijab.

'Civilised and decent clos'

tably, order signed by college principal directed students to avoid wearing attires that would attribute to religion or community, like Hijab.

"By time we tried to find those students, y had already left college. An order was subsequently issued by college, asking m to wear civilized and decent clos in college," principal of Agrani Government Automous PG College, DR Rahul, told reporters.

incident took place three days after a Hijab-clad M.Com student at same college was allowed to take her third-semester exam only after a written undertaking to refrain from wearing Hijab inside college premises. student, identified as Ruksana Khan was forced to undertake restriction after students from or communities objected to her outfit in college.

Hijab row

development comes as Karnataka High Court on February 10 issued a detailed interim order restraining all students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab, and/or bearing religious flags, regardless of ir faith, inside educational institution premises.

spat began in December last year after Udupi's Kundapur PU College's principal Rudra Gowda issued a circular, banning students from wearing hijabs in classrooms in an attempt to "ensure uniformity". decision led to an uproar from Hijab-clad female students in college and furr expanded to nearby districts, forcing state government to shut down schools and colleges as precautionary measures.

Currently, Karnataka High Court is hearing petitions on row and has ordered all state schools and colleges to reopen allowing students to return to classes. So far, court bench for row headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi touted that students must refrain from wearing "religious things" to avoid furr instigation of protestors until matter is resolved. next hearing is scheduled for today (February 15) after court adjourned on Monday.

Im: PTI (representative)