Image Courtesy:Twitter.com
On March 24, 2022, students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, called for a protest march iIn solidarity with the Muslim girl students in Karnataka. But instead of allowing students to exercise their right to protest peacefully, the government reacted by sending out a huge contingent of police and paramilitary forces that remain deployed outside the University.
A huge contingent of police and paramilitary forces outside the Jamia Millia Islamia University, in view of a protest call given by the students against the Karnataka #Hijabban.#HijabRow pic.twitter.com/rt5SekYFUV
— Shahid Tantray | شاہد تانترے (@shahidtantray) March 24, 2022
Images and videos on social media show security personnel standing outside holding lathis, while inside, students decry the policies of the ruling regime and its ideological partner, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that have caused an unnecessary controversy related to the traditional Islaic headscarf. Campus Front of India activists and students chanted slogans and protested the Karnataka High Court decision that virtually allowed the hijab ban by observing that wearing of hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. Some students held up posters that read “Seek Respect not Attention”.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, refused to list the Muslim girl students’ plea for urgent hearing, reported Bar and Bench. The girls’ representative pleaded for a speedy hearing citing that the students would have exams but the Court dismissed the argument stating “that has nothing to do with the matter.”
Demand for Justice ignited from Jamia Millia Islamia Campus by students on #KarnatakaHijabRow.
3/n pic.twitter.com/REE0qyRrt2
— Syed Mueen (@Mueen_magadi) March 24, 2022
This despite widespread news of how the Hijab row in the state has escalated to a point where Muslim girls refuse to enter educational premises if they are told to remove the head-dress. Netizens criticised the administration for this indirect exclusion of young girls. One person argued that the act of hindering girls’ education befits the Taliban but not democratic governments of India.
Barring Muslim girls and women from education is the #Taliban‘s job guys. Please let’s not do it in India too. Stopping hijabi girls and women from entering school and college unless they remove it will only result in their exit from education. #BetiPadhao #HijabBan #Karnataka https://t.co/zfUhEGsIhx
— Vidur Niranjan (@vidurn0) March 23, 2022
Students from Shimoga protesting against the #HijabBan in front of Shimoga DC Office. pic.twitter.com/MGqlXleQK7
— Mohammed Irshad (@Shaad_Bajpe) March 23, 2022
Related:
Saffronisation of education is okay, but hijabs are out?
Karnataka: Why is the BJP gov’t endorsing “Congress time rule” prohibiting non-Hindu vendors on temple land?
Hijab row: Udupi girls dubbed terrorists by BJP leader
Walkouts, objections, after Karnataka HC verdict on Hijab, but BJP netas hail it