Karnataka: Students protest against ban on hijabs, long beards in colleges

Mangaluru: Students in Mangaluru launched a protest on Saturday in front of Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil campus, which barred first year Muslim girls from wearing hijab or headscarves and boys from sporting long beards in classes.

According to reports, parents and Popular Front of India (PFI) activists also joined the students in their protest. As the protesters alleged the college authorities were attempting to restrain religious rights by imposing the ban, the representatives of the institute’s management sought two-week's time to come up with a solution.

Meanwhile, vice-president of Srinivas Group of Colleges A. Srinivas Rao said headscarves were banned on campus to maintain a "uniform dress code,” while its director said the first year students and their parents were at the time of the admission informed that hijab will not be allowed in classes.

"We have a uniform in our college. Second, third and fourth year students are following this. Present education year also we mentioned the same rules and regulations to students by the time of admission. But now, first year students are opposing it. We have already discussed with parents that, we are not allowing head scarf. Parents agreed at the time of admission, but now they are protesting. We will solve this issue within 15 days," the director said.