A video that shows a Muslim student in hijab offering namaz in a Madya Pradesh university has led to a controversy. The video, shared on social media, shows the student offering namaz inside a classroom in Dr Harisingh Gour Sagar University, a central institution.
A right-wing group, Hindu Jagran Manch, has complained to the university administration to act against the student. The university said it has ordered an investigation.
After the video surfaced on media, members of the Hindu Jagran Manch reached the university campus and staged a protest, raising ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans and reciting Hanuman Chalisa at a temple located on the campus. They later handed over a memorandum to the university administration demanding action against the girl student.
“A five-member committee has been constituted to look into the matter. The committee will submit its report within three days, and further action will be taken based on this report. We have asked all the students to follow their religious practices outside the university campus,” Gupta said.
Observing that wearing of hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam, the Karnataka High Court had on March 15 dismissed the petitions, filed by students of the Government Pre-University College for Girls, Udupi and other educational institutes, challenging hijab ban inside classrooms.
Karnataka has been witnessing hijab protests by Muslim students for months after few students at the Udupi college in December 2021 alleged that they had been stopped from attending classes as they were wearing hijab.
(With inputs from agencies)
