Tension flared at CJ Bellad Government First Grade College in Haveri on Wednesday when a group of students arrived wearing saffron shawls in protest against classmates attending classes in burqas. The demonstration, mirroring similar campus disputes seen elsewhere in Karnataka, prompted college authorities to immediately enforce a strict uniform policy to restore order and prevent further escalation.
The controversy had first surfaced two months ago when a few female students began wearing burqas to college, prompting the administration to issue warnings and insist on adherence to the prescribed uniform. Despite the initial directive, the issue resurfaced on Wednesday, with students donning saffron shawls as a counter-protest, leading to heated exchanges on campus.
To defuse the situation, the principal reiterated that only the official college uniform would be permitted inside classrooms and lecture halls. Authorities stated that the rule applies uniformly to all students, irrespective of religion, and is aimed at maintaining discipline and a secular academic environment.
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Local police were alerted and deployed in strength outside the college gates as a precautionary measure, though no violence or large-scale agitation was reported. The college administration has urged students to focus on academics and warned of disciplinary action against those violating uniform guidelines.
Similar dress-code disputes involving hijabs, burqas, and saffron shawls have periodically surfaced in Karnataka since the 2022 hijab row, often becoming flashpoints for broader ideological debates. The state government continues to back institutions enforcing uniform policies on public educational campuses.
The Haveri college has now mandated strict compliance, with faculty directed to ensure the rule is followed from Thursday onwards, in an effort to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
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