Now for the past few weeks in India's southern state of Karnataka, a religious symbol has become one of the most polarizing debates in the recent past, and as the matter continues to be discussed in the state's highest court by a full judicial bench. Similar protests are being witnessed in other parts of the country as well. Now western states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan have witnessed demonstrations. In west Bengal, protests turned violent with protesters hurling a bomb at a school.
Tensions over the hijab educational institutions have also been simmering in India's most populous state that is Uttar Pradesh and the national capital Delhi. Meanwhile, at the ground zero of this hijab movement, the protests have also been found out across the southern state of Karnataka. Several other government-run educational institutions in Karnataka denied entry to students wearing hijabs. There have been protests, counter-protests and in some cases, they turned violent.
It's been a week since the matter reached the state's high court and arguments from both sides have been on with the council from the petitioners raising the issue of fundamental rights and freedom of choice. While the state government has been countering the importance of uniforms in schools for equality and existing codes regarding the same. Last week the court passed an interim order asking students not to wear any religious dress to class.
In educational institutes that have prescribed uniforms. Now when high school classes resumed after a five-day break on Monday the protests by students wanting to don the hijab have continued while many educational institutions have remained firm that the headscarf must be removed to attend classes. Some students in the state have reportedly chosen not to write the exams as they will refuse permission to do so while wearing a hijab. The matter will be heard by the court again on Wednesday and the governing council will continue with the arguments.