Hijab Row: Karnataka CM declares holiday in schools, colleges for 3 days

Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai tweeted "All high schools and colleges to remain shut to maintain peace and harmony".

Amid the ongoing row over girl students wearing hijab to educational institutions, all schools and colleges in Karnataka have been shut for the next three days. Earlier, in the day, a student in a burqa was heckled by a large group of slogan-shouting, saffron scarf-wearing boys in a college in Mandya pre-University college. Owing to this, the decision was taken to close schools and colleges.

Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai tweeted "All high schools and colleges to remain shut to maintain peace and harmony". The Karnataka High Court was today in session and was hearing petitions filed by five women from a government college in Udupi, questioning hijab restrictions. The high court will continue the hearing tomorrow from 2:30 pm.

Karnataka HC also urged the students and the public to maintain peace.  "This court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of public at large and it hopes that the same would be put to practice," Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad said.

On January 1, a government Pre-University college in Karnataka's Udupi barred six Muslim girl students from attending classes as they were wearing hijab. The college management cited a new uniform policy behind the reason for the ban. Soon after this, other government colleges in Udupi witnessed several students protesting against a ban on hijab.

Just before the court proceedings ended today, the Chief Minister tweeted, "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."

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