Muslim students organize massive protest against head scarf issue

Muslim students organize massive protest against head scarf issue

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, Jul 21, 2012 : Muslim students from colleges all over Dakshina Kannada district on July 20, Friday organized a protest in front of Ramakunjeshwara First Grade College in Ramakunja, Uppinangady to extend their support to the Muslim students of Ramakunjeshwar College, who have been fighting for their rights to wear head scarves in the college premises for the past one week.

 

 

Although Muslim students of Ramakunjeshwar College have been protesting for the past one week, the college authorities refused to allow them to wear head scarves in the classrooms. However, they succeeded in convincing 30 percent of the protestors to stick to the rules and get back to class.

The Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) launched a Ramakunja Chalo movement to express its support for the agitating students. A few police were deployed to the student as it was believed to be a small protest, but students from colleges all over the district arrived on the spot in tempos, buses, and other vehicles arranged by KFD. The protest was held under the banner of Mangalore University All College Students’ Union, which had sought the permission of Circle Inspector Y. Jagdish to organize a protest march. The inspector, however, urged them to keep their protest peaceful and not to enter the college campus.

Furious students threatened to jump over the boundary wall of the college and enter the premises, but the college authorities remained in touch with the district police chief to prevent the situation from getting out of control. ASP Anuchet ordered the protestors not to enter the college campus as it was illegal, owing to which the protestors submitted a memorandum to the college authorities at the gate and retreated.

SP Abhishek Goyal said that legal action will be taken against those who organized such a massive protest without taking the permission of the district police.

The college authorities say that they have enforced the dress code to maintain equality and will not bow down to religious pressure.

Uppinangady SI Ravi B. S. and Sampya SI Nanda Kumar were present.