Karnataka Shuts down its Schools, Colleges for three days on Hijab Row

The hijab controversy in Karnataka has led to the closure of all educational institutions for the next three days as the state government wants to avoid any untoward incident that might create a law and order situation.

Basavaraj S Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka, appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony. He took to his Twitter handle @BSBommai and wrote, “I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate.”

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court is hearing a petition that has been filed by five women from a Udupi-based government college. They have questions about the ground on which colleges have imposed restrictions on coming to the college in hijab.

The high court has started the hearing today and it will continue tomorrow as well. Meanwhile, the court has appealed to students and parents to maintain peace and harmony.

The controversy over wearing hijab started last month when a college, Government Girls PU College in Udupi, allegedly refused six students to attend classes as they were wearing hijab.

The matter was reported in the media and many other activists along with the right-wing group joined the protest. The right-wing groups expressed their views against the women wearing hijab and the whole issue snowballed into a huge controversy.