Violent clashes over students’ hijab ban lift the veil on fault lines in Narendra Modi’s India

All schools and colleges in southern state of Karnataka have been closed after clashes between Hindu youths in saffron scarves and Muslims girls in hijabs

Controversy lays bare growing divides in the multi-faith, multi-ethnic land and highlights concerns over the Hindu-nationalist BJP government’s agenda

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A Muslim woman holds a placard reading ‘Hijab is our constitutional right’ at a demonstration in Karnataka. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:20pm, 9 Feb 2022Updated: 8:22pm, 28 Apr 2023

Violent clashes have erupted across the southern Indian state of Karnataka after weeks of building tensions over a ban on Muslim students wearing the hijab.

All schools and colleges in the state have been closed until Friday after clashes broke out between Hindu youths wearing saffron scarves and Muslim girls in hijabs and their supporters.

To many observers, the violence illustrates how controversy over the hijab has grown to encompass virtually every political and cultural fault line in India.

Since last month, female students at half a dozen pre-university colleges in Karnataka have been prevented by the college authorities from entering the classroom on account of their hijab. The dispute first broke out at a college in Udupi and later spread to colleges in other districts.

The girls have stood outside college gates to protest against the ban, saying they are being denied their rights to education and to practise their religion – both of which are enshrined in the constitution.

The college principals have insisted that the uniform dress code for all students must be followed and the hijab is not a part of it. The state government has backed their stand.

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