Hijab Vs Saffron scarf row now in Uttar Pradesh: Aligarh college's uniform order after saffron protest

A dispute over restrictions on the wearing of the hijab by female students in Karnataka has now reached India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, with a group of youngsters asking a college to ban the head covering.

The Dharma Samaj College in Aligarh, has now issued a notice banning entry of students without the prescribed uniform.

The directives come two days after the group of students wearing saffron scarves held a protest in the campus, and handed a memorandum to its officials seeking a complete ban on the hijab within its compound.

Reuters reported that religious garb was already not allowed in classrooms of Dharma Samaj College, but could have be worn elsewhere on campus.

Confirming this, principal of the college Dr Raj Kumar Verma, said, "We will not allow students’ entry in the premises with covered faces, as some students recently spotted wearing hijab and burqa in the campus," adding that saffron scarves will also not be allowed inside the institute."

Authorities closed colleges in Karnataka last week after a new uniform policy barred students from wearing headscarves in classrooms, leading to protests by Muslim students and counter protests by Hindu students.

Pertinently, protests were organised in Aligarh Muslim University in support of the women students who were not allowed to attend classes in hijab in a college in Udipi in Karnataka.