The row over students wearing hijab took a new turn in Chikkamagaluru on February 7 when nearly 30 students of IDSG Government First Grade College arrived wearing blue shawls and raised slogans in support of Muslim girls.

The students, identified with Bahujan Vidyarthi Sangha, wore blue shawls and chanted Jai Bhim slogans. They said they were in support of wearing hijab in colleges as part of religious practice.

At the same time, around 30 students arrived wearing saffron shawls to protest against wearing of hijab.

The group of students wearing saffron shawls at IDSG Government First Grade College in Chikkamagaluru on February 7, 2022.
 

A few Muslim girls were wearing hijab.

After reaching college, students wearing saffron shawls chanted Jai Ram and they were countered by Jai Bhim slogans by those wearing blue shawls. The situation on the campus became tense for a few minutes before the teaching staff intervened. They addressed the students and told them to maintain calm.

A representative of the college speaks to the group of students wearing blue shawls at IDSG Government First Grade College in Chikkamagaluru on February 7, 2022.
 

College principal Dr. K. A. Rajanna, in order to avoid any untoward incident, declared a holiday and told the students to disperse.