India

RSS Muslim wing supports Karnataka student, says ‘harassment unacceptable’

A screengrab of the viral video shows a Muslim student in Karnataka being harassed by the Hindutva mob near the college parking. The student however keeps shouting Allahu Akbar to counter the anti-Islamic slogans.

‘Those who chanted Jai Shri Ram and tried to terrorize her were wrong’

‘The student has constitutional freedom to wear Hijab’

Karnataka: Amid the widespread uproar, as Muslim students in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh were barred from entering into colleges and schools with hijab, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has come out in support of the Karnataka student who was recently harassed by a group of Hindutva members who also chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to mock her hijab in the college campus.

The student was heckled by the mob wearing saffron shawls. However, the student kept shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ before the college staff came to her rescue.  The incident took place in Mandya, Karnataka.

The RSS Muslim wing (Muslim Rashtriya Manch) has backed Bibi Muskan’s plea to wear a hijab and condemned the saffron frenzy surrounding her.

Talking to reporters, Anil Singh, Avadh prant sanchalak of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, said, “She is a daughter and sister of our community. We stand by her in her hour of crisis.”

In its statement, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch said that Hindu culture teaches respect to women, and those who chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and tried to terrorize the Muslim student were wrong.

“The girl has a constitutional freedom to wear a hijab,” the statement read. If she had violated the campus dress code, then the institution has the right to act against her.

“The behaviour of boys sporting saffron scarfs and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is unacceptable. They have defamed Hindu culture,” it said.

“Hijab or purdah is also part of Indian culture and Hindu women too sport purdah as per choice. And the same condition applies to Bibi Muskan,” the statement said.

“Our sarsangh chalak has said, Muslims are our brothers and the DNA of both communities are the same. I appeal to members of Hindu community to accept Muslims as their brethren,” it added.

In a viral video shared on February 8, a Muslim student with a hijab could be seen arriving at her college on a scooter. As she walked towards her class after parking her scooter, a group of Hindutva members began to mock her hijab by chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram.’

However, the student stopped to shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ to counter the slogans raised by the mob against Muslims and Hijab.

The video was shared by journalist Imran Khan, who wrote, “#KarnatakaHijabRow when a #hijabi student arrives at PES college in #Mandya. She gets heckled by students wearing #saffronshawls chanting #JaiSriRam. She raises her hand says “#AllahuAkbar befor being escorted by college staff. Video courtesy: Digvijaya News. #Karnataka.”

The student in the video is now being hailed as brave. Journalist Rifat Jawaid tweeted, “Very brave girl indeed. You need guts to take on these terrorists. Hope she remains focused to study and stay away from politics.”

One Twitter user wrote, “My salute this girl she is brave a gladiator.” Another commented, “Harassing a woman is not neither Hinduism nor Nationalism or Patriotism… & saffron don’t Represent Hinduism or Nationalism or Patriotism.”

The social media users have praised the student for standing against the wrong describing her as the “Iron Lady” and the “Icon Lady of Hijab”.

Earlier, a ban was imposed on Muslim students for wearing hijab in the Bhandarkar’s Arts and Science Degree College in Kundapur, which is a coastal town in Karnataka’s Udupi region.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has begun hearing the plea against a hijab ban in several junior colleges in parts of the state.

Protests erupted in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi on Tuesday as groups of students with saffron scarfs and those wearing hijabs clashed with each other.

The hijab row, which began in a Udupi college, has spread to several educational institutions across Karnataka, with several students turning up for classes wearing saffron shawls and headgears as a form of protest.

Amid the raging row, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has asked students in junior colleges to adhere to the state government’s rules regarding uniforms until the issue over wearing headscarves in classes is addressed by the High Court.

 

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