Karnataka colleges shut for 3 days as hijab row turns violent
Categories: DAILY NEWS
The Karnataka government declared a three-day holiday for high schools and colleges across the state as the hijab controversy took a violent turn in some parts of Karnataka on Tuesday. The educational institutions will reopen on February 12.“All government, aided, unaided, degree, diploma and engineering colleges will be closed for three days. However, examinations scheduled between February 9 and 11 will be held as scheduled,’’ said the government order. Anticipating trouble, many educational institutions, especially in Bengaluru, decided to shut down all classes. The raging row over the right of girls to wear the hijab in classrooms spread from the coastal belt to most parts of Karnataka. In violent protests, several students, teachers and policemen were injured even as the case came up for hearing in the high court.Tension prevailed at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi, after students arrived wearing saffron turbans and shawls to counter the students wearing hijabs. College authorities rushed to spot and tried to convince the students to stop their protests. Muslim students refused to enter the classroom without the hijab, stating they had been wearing it since childhood.Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed to students to maintain peace and harmony till the Karnatak high court delivers its vrdict on the issue.