Dnt take liberty for granted: Cong’s Khader to pro-hijab group

Mangaluru: Hitting out at pro-hijab protesters, Congress leader and former Karnataka minister UT Khader has asked them to visit Islamic countries like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia to understand India’s beauty and culture.
Taking a dig at students of Hampankatta University College and Uppinangady First Grade College, who are demanding college authorities to allow them to attend classes wearing hijab, he also advised them not to take liberty they enjoy in India for granted.
“When you go outside India and visit Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other Islamic nations you will realise India’s beauty, culture and opportunities it offers. Here you have the liberty to talk and do anything,” he told reporters on Monday.
Khader advised the protesting girl students to focus on education and take the advice of their parents before making hurried decisions. “There cannot be a separate rule for 15 odd students. Courts cannot give verdicts as per your wishes,” he said.
The Congress leader also rued that the protesting girl students resorted to disconnecting his phone calls when he was attempting to resolve the hijab dilemma.
Khader urged the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner KV Rajendra to clear the confusion on dress code in Hampanakatta University College which is an offshoot of a decision of the university syndicate.
College principal Anusuya Rai issued a show cause notice to three students who addressed a press meet to deplore the decision of the college to ban hijab in the middle of the academic year.
The students have been asked to reply within three days. The notice says that the students have brought disrepute to the college by giving statements against it and its principal.
Rai said at least 24 girl students, out of the 44 Muslim students, are attending classes without hijabs, and rest of them are remaining absent since the ban came into force.
Mangalore University V-C P S Yadapadithaya said a meeting would be held on June 11 to deliberate upon strict implementation of hijab rule.
On Monday too, Uppinangady First Grade Government College authorities barred 24 students from attending classes for a week for coming to the college in hijab.