Amid the ongoing controversy over hijab in schools and colleges in Karnataka, state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday 8 February called for the closure of all high schools and colleges in the state for the next three days. declare.
“I appeal to all students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days,” the chief minister tweeted. All concerned are requested to cooperate.”
In another statement, Bommai said, “We are waiting for the directions of the Karnataka High Court. I appeal to the students to maintain peace and harmony. I have directed the school administration that there should be no clash between the students.” At the same time, I appeal to all outsiders related to this matter not to make provocative statements.”
The state’s main opposition Congress had also appealed to the Karnataka government to shut down all educational institutions to restore law and order. Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar tweeted, “The situation in some educational institutions in Karnataka has become so bad that in one case the saffron flag was hoisted there by replacing the national flag with the tricolor. I think there is a need to restore law and order For this, all the affected institutions should be closed for a week. Classes can also run online.”
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Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has started hearing the petition challenging the administration’s decision not to admit Muslim girl students wearing hijab in the college. The petition has been filed by five Muslim girls studying in a government pre-university college in Udupi, who were denied admission in the college for wearing hijab.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the High Court said that students taking to the road like this, one student group attacking another group of students, their indulging in violence, all these are not good things. The High Court said it would resume the hearing at 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
The order to close Bommai’s schools and colleges till February 12 comes at a time when protests by groups of hijab supporters and anti-hijab groups have been observed outside colleges and schools across Karnataka. Pro-hijab groups are protesting the restrictions imposed on Muslim girls from not allowing Muslim girls to enter classes just because of the hijab. On the other hand, many Hinduist organizations are distributing saffron-coloured shawls and turbans among Hindu students opposing the hijab.
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