According to the students of Vivek Vidyalaya Junior College in Goregaon, they were not allowed to wear a burqa despite repeated requests, though the institute permitted a headscarf. After the protest and a letter submitted by students, the college issued a detailed statement denying the allegations
The protest took place in front of the college this week.
Students of a college in Mumbai’s western suburbs staged a protest outside the institute’s premises this week, contesting what they said was a recent burqa ban imposed by the administration.
According to the students of Vivek Vidyalaya Junior College in Goregaon, they were not allowed to wear a burqa despite repeated requests, though the institute permitted a headscarf.
Following the protest and a letter submitted by the students, the college issued a detailed statement denying the allegations. “At the outset, we deny all your allegations, averments against our educational institution by reserving our right to initiate appropriate remedy provided under law and respond as follows,” the statement said.
The institute added: “Our institute has no reservations for the Muslim girl students wearing the hijab, and in fact, there is no ban to the said practice. It seems that there is a misrepresentation, which has led to unnecessary issues which were totally avoidable.”
The college further said it had “decided to implement the request of burkha without niqab with immediate effect”, while clarifying that the decision “shall not be considered as a precedent”. It also said no fundamental rights had been violated “as stated in your letter under reply”.
The statement urged the students to ensure that “communal harmony, law and order issues are not created in and around the premises” and asked that “all the posts, videos, materials circulating in the social media” be deleted. It added: “We deny all your allegations in the letter under reply and nothing may be deemed as admitted unless specifically admitted… we advise you not to create any unnecessary issues which may affect the unity, integrity, social fabric of our diverse nation.”
Student representatives said the matter has now been resolved, and that the college will allow the wearing of the burqa.
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