NEW DELHI: Amid nation-wide protests rising against denying entry to Muslim girls wearing hijabs, to classes in Karnataka, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has commented on the issue. “Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists – for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalization of Muslim women”, she tweeted.

It was on January 1 that the authorities of Government Women’s Pre-University college in Udupi, disallowed girl students wearing hijabs from entering the campus. The new policy on students’ uniforms was the reason behind denying entry to six girls who wore hijab to the college, said the college officials. We were told to enter the campus only after removing the hijab. The principal informed us to come to class after the high court passes an order on the issue, said the girl students. Huge protests have also erupted in other government colleges in Udupi, following the incident.

28 students of Udupi Kundapura College were denied entry into the campus for wearing hijabs. The college officials point to the new guidelines issued by the government for their action. The incident has provoked strong protests in different parts of the state. Complaints have also been raised against some Hindu organisations for forcing Hindu boys to wear saffron shawls to the college. Some students belonging to Sangh Parivar, at Mahatma Gandhi College in Udupi, protested by wearing saffron turbans and shawls to the college. They have made it clear that they would continue to wear until the hijab is banned. The students wore saffron shawls alleging that girls wearing hijab were allowed entry to write exams. ‘We also want equality. We should be allowed write exams wearing the saffron shawls’, they demanded.