Muslim girls say they were only following their faith and not breaking any rule as long-running dress code dispute deepens
HAVERI — Fresh tension broke out at the CG Bellad Government First Grade College at Akki Alur of Karnataka’s Haveri district after a group of Hindu students walked into classrooms wearing saffron shawls to object to Muslim girls attending college in hijabs.
The incident has revived the debate on dress codes and religious freedom in Karnataka, a debate that has affected many Muslim students since the hijab ban brought in by the previous BJP government.
The protest began on Friday morning, when a few male students arrived wearing saffron shawls around their necks. They said they were doing this because some Muslim girls continued to wear hijabs inside the classroom. One of the protesting boys said, “We have complained many times, but the college has not taken action. If they can wear hijabs, then we will also wear saffron shawls.”
College principal Veeresh Kamur said the college had made it clear that students must wear the prescribed uniform inside classrooms, though exemptions were allowed in special cases. He confirmed that the issue had come up earlier as well. “This matter was raised two months ago. At that time, we spoke to both sides and the problem settled down. But again today, when a girl entered the class wearing a hijab, some boys came in with saffron shawls,” he said.
He added that the college would now hold a joint meeting with staff and parents. “We will speak to everyone and try to find a solution. Students wear different clothes when they come from home, but inside the classroom there is a rule. If someone has a genuine reason, we allow an exemption,” he said.
Muslim girls at the college told local reporters that they were shocked by the protest. One of the students said, “We are only covering our heads. We are not disturbing anyone. We come here to study, not to fight. The shawl protest made us feel unsafe.”
Another girl added that hijab is part of her faith and does not affect her studies. “We respect the college rules. We only expect respect for our faith as well,” she said.
The saffron shawl group, however, insisted that the administration was not applying the same rules to everyone. They said the college should either ask all students to follow the uniform strictly or allow everyone to wear what they wish. One student said, “If the rule is uniform, then let it be the same for all. We have raised this many times but nothing has changed.”
The latest confrontation comes against the backdrop of the statewide hijab ban introduced by the previous BJP government. The rule barred Muslim girls from wearing hijabs in educational institutions. The ban was challenged in the Karnataka High Court, which upheld it. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the bench delivered a split verdict, which effectively kept the high court order unchanged. The issue has remained sensitive ever since, especially in government colleges across the state.
Meanwhile, this is not the first incident involving the hijab in recent months. In Kochi, Kerala, a Class 8 student at St Rita’s Public School was allegedly barred from entering the classroom because she wore a hijab. The school said it was following its uniform policy. The girl’s family said their daughter was being singled out. That case also led to protests and public debate on how schools should deal with religious clothing.
Back in Haveri, teachers said they hoped the situation would calm down soon. A senior staff member, who did not want to be named, said, “Students should not fight over clothes. We want all of them to sit together peacefully and finish their studies.”
Parents of Muslim students expressed concern about the growing pressure on their children. One parent said, “Our daughters are only covering their heads. They are not breaking any rule. Why should they be made to feel scared in their own college?”
For now, the college has asked both groups to stay calm until a meeting is held. But the atmosphere on campus remains tense, and the hijab-shawl dispute has once again shown how fragile student harmony can become when dress and religion collide in the classroom.
