A college near here has allegedly restricted a Muslim girl student from attending the classes wearing a headscarf.
Ayesha Asmin, a first year B.Com student of the government aided SVS College in Bantwal, said she had not been attending the classes for the last 12 days.
She alleged that college union president Bharath had "heckled" her for wearing a scarf and reportedly warned her if she continued to wear it in the college, he would turn up with a "saffron" scarf. After this incident, she had been asked not to attend the classes by the principal, Ayesha added.
Ayesha said when she appeared for her interview to join the college wearing a burqa, the principal had not raised any objection. Her father Mohammed also said he had admitted his daughter to the college after clarifying that there would be no objection to her wearing a burqa.
However, College Principal Suhtaram Mayya said, "We've told them clearly that a burqa would not be allowed in classroom and several other students of the same community follow the rules. We have 23 other Muslim girl students and no one wears a scarf."
"We don't allow any student to wear a dress which symbolises religion. This has been the policy followed by the college since inception," a college official said.
Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University K M Kaveriappa said he had served a notice on the college and would wait for a reply before taking any action. He also said he would try his best to admit Ayesha in some other college if she preferred.