Bommai, Karnataka HC appeal for peace after hijab protests turns violent

Bengaluru, Feb 8 (UNI) Amid protests turning violent in some parts of the state over hijab row, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday appealed for peace and ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for next three days. “I request all students, teaching staff of schools and colleges in Karnataka to maintain peace and tranquility. I have ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate,” he said. Not only the CM, but also the Karnataka High Court, which is hearing a bunch of petitions over the hijab row, appealed for peace and harmony as reports of tension prevailed in several parts of the state. “Having heard counsel for the parties and pending further hearing of the matter, this court requests the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquility,” the court said. “This court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of the public at large and hope the same would be put to practice,” it said before adjourning the hearing on the hijab row to 2.30 pm tomorrow. The High Court is hearing four petitions against action of educational institutions stopping female Muslim students from attending classes on the ground that they wear a hijab. The petitions argue that the institutions are discriminating against the petitioners and other female Muslim students by denying them entry on the sole ground of them wearing a hijab. Even as the court was hearing the matter, reports of some protests turning violent came to light. In Bagalkot, the police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse a group which resorted to stone-pelting and have detained some of them. In Shivamogga district, stones were pelted at a bus, forcing the police to baton-charge to control the situation and district administration to clamp prohibitory orders. A hijab-wearing student at PES College in Mandya was all

egedly heckled with Jai Sri Ram slogans and the female student ‘retorted’ by saying ‘Allahu Akbar’. One of the college staff immediately resolved the matter and escorted the female student to a separate place. Tension also prevailed at the MGM college at Manipal in Udupi after two groups of students wearing hijabs and saffron shawls raised slogans against each other on the campus. College staff made efforts to convince both the groups, but they refused to relent. Commenting on the prevailing tense situation in Karnataka, State Congress President DK Shivakumar urged some institutions to be closed for a week to restore law and order after the national flag was replaced by a saffron flag. “The situation in some Karnataka educational institutions has gone so out of hand that in one case the National flag was replaced by a saffron flag. I think the affected institutions should be closed for a week to restore law and order. Teaching can continue online,” he tweeted. Former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah demanded the government to declare holidays for all schools and colleges and resume the conduction of online classes due to hijab row turning violent. In a series of tweets, he said, “Police have become mute spectators without taking action against those causing trouble. Parents are anxious about this. I urge Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai to immediately announce a holiday to all the schools and colleges, where the tussle about Hijab & Kesari is going on, and conduct online classes.” “The issue around Hijab and Kesari is highly concerning & leading to tussle among students. Schools & Colleges are turning into a battlefield. This is absolutely necessary in the interest of the safety of students,” he stated. Siddaramaiah blamed BJP for politicizing the issue and alleged that the government is clueless on how to control the situation. The Hijab-Kesari issue could have been resolved harmoniously at the local level and students are suffering because of BJP’s ulterior political motives. Before the high court adjourned the hearing to tomorrow, Senior Counsel for Devdatt Kamat, who is appearing for petitioners challenging ban on hijab wearing on college campuses in Karnataka, prayed for an interim relief by allowing the petitioners to attend classes in view of exams fast approaching and they have been exercising their rights since the last two years. He basically made submissions on three fronts – Wearing of hijab is essential practice of Islam; the grounds of public order will not pass constitutional muster; and there is a positive duty on the state to maintain public order. In the pre-lunch session, Kamat argued that wearing of hijab is an essential part of Islamic religion and is protected by right to expression under Article 19(1)(a) and can be restricted only on grounds under Article 19(6). Moreover, wearing hijab is a facet of right to privacy recognised as part of Article 21 by the Puttaswamy judgment of the Supreme Court, Kamat said.