The Karnataka high court has asked the state government to give it details on the role of the Campus Front of India in the protest after ban on hijabs in a school in Udupi. The HC order came after senior counsel SS Naganand, representing the Government PU College for Girls, its principal and a teacher, contended to the full bench of chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi on Wednesday that the hijab row was ‘started by some students owing allegiance to CFI’. Advocate general Prabhuling Navadgi said a report in a sealed cover on CFI will be submitted soon.
Six girl students of the college attended a CFI news conference in Udupi protesting against the college authorities denying them entry with hijabs four days after they requested the principal permission. The students used to wear the headscarf to the campus but removed them in class, Naganand, representing college principal Rudre Gowda, said.
“The institution did not have any rule on hijab-wearing as such since no one used to wear it to the classroom in the last 35 years. The students who demanded it had the backing of outside forces,” Naganand contended. Chief justice Awasthi then sought to know what CFI stood for and its role. Naganand said the organisation ‘coordinated and organised protests’ in the state. “It is also a voluntary organisation spearheading and drumbeating in favour of students” wearing hijab in classrooms, he contended. Another lawyer said the CFI was a ‘radical organisation’ not recognised by colleges. Chief Justice Awasthi sought to know whether the state was aware of it, to which Naganand said ‘the Intelligence Bureau knew’.
The CJ directed advocate general Prabhuling K Navadgi for details. Navadgi said there was ‘some information’. CJ Awasthi wondered how suddenly an organisation cropped up. Naganand alleged CFI threatened some teachers. “Teachers were afraid of lodging a complaint but now they have filed a complaint with the police,” he contended. Justice Dixit asked when the teachers were threatened, to which the school’s counsel Naganand said, “a couple of days ago.” Expressing displeasure, Justice Dixit asked the AG why he did not inform the court about it. The AG replied he was not aware of the incident.
Shivamogga Arrests
Two more persons were arrested in connections with the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Shivamogga, home minister Araga Jnanendra has said. Among arrested are Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Ashifullah Khan, Rehan Khan, Nehal and Abdul Afnan, all residents of Shivamogga, police said. The district administration has extended prohibitory orders till Friday. “We never perceive this as an ordinary murder case. We will bring out the forces behind it,” the minister said. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, meanwhile, said a decision on handing over the murder probe to NIA will be taken based on the outcome of police investigation.
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