Mangaluru: Hijab-clad students held a press conference on Friday June 3.
Speaking to mediapersons Gausiya said, “Earlier, there was no hijab issue in the university. Even after the High Court’s order, we wore the hijab. But a few days later, the problem began overnight. We had approached the Vice-Chancellor several times in this regard. That is when VC asked the Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajendra K. V. to bring a clarification letter of the Court Order. So we went to the DC, but we were not able meet him at once. Then when we went back to college, and were thrown out. Some students had threatened to wear saffron shawls. The Principal then ordered to restrict our entry. So we went to the library and sat outside. After this, we also were denied permission to wear a hijab and enter the campus. However, once the Akhila Bharata Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protest, we were thrown out of the campus, she said.
Continuing, Gausiya said, “After we met the Deputy Commissioner on Monday May 29, along with us, our parents too appealed. Our only request is, continue with the college’s old dress code for this academic year. We have been wearing uniform shawls as a hijab for a long time. There is no High Court order behind this order of the college. Instead, the ABVP is issuing this order under pressure. It will take a long time to fight a legal battle over this. The Principal informed us that they had no intention of removing the headscarfs. The principal’s order was made under pressure from the ABVP, she alleged.
