‘No Hijab Inside Classrooms, No Placard Activism On Campus’ Says Udupi College Management Head, MLA Raghupati Bhat

Mincing no words and drawing curtains, atleast momentarily, on the ‘Hijab’ row that made Udupi Women’s Government PU College Development hit headlines, Udupi MLA and head of the College Development Committee Raghupati Bhat says there will be no scope for the issue to continue on campus.

Speaking to Swarajya, Bhat emphasised saying ‘it is not that we are unaware of the forces behind these activities. The likes of an SDPI have been trying to create such issues on the coast for sometime now. But we wont let our college campus be the stage for all this to play out. Which is why we have clearly told them that from tomorrow, the six protesting students will be permitted inside the campus only if they are willing to abide by the rules,”.

After holding a meeting with all stakeholders including mothers of four of the six protesting students, the girls themselves, leaders of the Muslim community including the head of the Beary Sahitya Academy Rahim Uchil, Bhat announced the decision of the college to put an end to the ongoing issue by instructing the parents to get their wards to follow the rules of the college.

’Muslim leaders spoke to the students and parents during the meeting as well as held personal discussions where they did try discuss various Islamic norms and rules and explain to them the need to abide by the decision of the college. The mothers responded saying they would discuss with the male members of the family and take a decision,‘ explained Bhat about the meeting held today.

“But that isnt our concern, for as far as sporting the hijab and entering the classroom is concerned it is a ‘no’ from the college and it will stay that way, as we have been empowered by the government’s instructions to maintain status quo. So they are free to discuss, decide or debate but the only choice they have is to follow the rules and attend classes or don’t,” said Bhat, adding that parents of other students had approached the management regarding the inconvenience being meted out to their wards because of these few students.

Which is why, he says, no media or any other organisation, be it political or religious will be permitted within the campus. Nor will the college campus provide a platform for any sort of placard activism. ‘Hardly few weeks to the annual examinations and we cant put the future of all other students which also include over a hundred Muslim students who arent party to this issue at stake.

Karnataka Minister For Education BC Nagesh had clarified as the issue began to gain momentum that schools and colleges were not places to practice religion but to gain education and hence such demands must be shunned. A committee has been setup and the government had instructed the college to maintain status quo until the committee submits its report and action is taken based on its findings.

The college though last week offered the students the option to attend online lectures in a bid to avoid missing classes, but the protesting ’hijab actvists’ refused to do so, claiming it was their constitutional right to sport the headscarf.

Also read:

1. Karnataka: ‘Hijab Is Our Constitutional Right’ Say Protesting Students Refusing To Attend Online Classes Offered By College

2. No Question Of Permitting Hijab Within Classrooms, Those Having Issues Are Free To Leave: Udupi College Committee Vice President Yashpal Suvarna