Hijab row: ‘Unseen hands’ may have fanned row, says HC bench | India News

AFP

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court said the way the hijab dispute erupted gives scope for an argument that “unseen hands” are at work to foment social unrest. It sought a speedy investigation to bring the culprits to book.
The bench noted in its verdict that from the submissions made on behalf of the respondent — Government PU College for Girls, Udupi — and the material placed on record, it is noticeable that all was well with the dress code since 2004.
“The way (the) hijab imbroglio unfolded gives scope for the argument that some ‘unseen hands’ are at work to engineer social unrest and disharmony. Much is not necessary to specify,” it said.
Earlier, the Karnataka HC had noted, “We’re impressed that even Muslims participate in festivals that are celebrated in ‘ashta mutt sampradaya’ (Udupi being the place where eight holy mutts are situated). We are dismayed as to how all of a sudden, that too in the middle of the academic term, the issue of hijab is generated and blown out of proportion by the powers that be.”
“We are not commenting on the ongoing police investigation, lest it should be affected. We’ve perused and returned copies of the police papers furnished to us in a sealed cover. We expect a speedy and effective investigation into the matter and culprits being brought to book,” the bench said. During the hearing, counsel representing the Udupi college specifically alleged that Campus Front of India is behind these incidents, which later took the form of an agitation.