With high schools across the state up to class X reopening on Monday, the Karnataka government, on Friday, issued a series of directions to district administrations, aimed at maintaining peace and that the High Court order is not violated.
The government also extended the closure of degree and diploma colleges till Wednesday (February 16).
"From Monday high school classes up to class X will resume across the state, directions have been issued to see to it that no untoward incident takes place. In sensitive areas, DCs and SPs have to visit campuses and instruct the authorities and teaching staff there to see to it that no untoward incidents take place," Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting convened by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and attended by ministers, deputy commissioners, superintendent of police, deputy director of public instruction and CEOs of zilla panchayats of all districts via video conferencing, the minister said the officials have been asked to be in constant contact with principals, teachers, management of educational institutions and parents.
"Action should be taken against the guilty, peace meetings should be held and the High Court order should be followed literally. Authorities should not budge to any pressure and even small incidents should be considered seriously," Jnanendra said.
The government on Thursday had decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and degree colleges thereafter.
Stating that law and order should be maintained at all costs and measures should be taken to ensure that there is no incitement from outside, the home minister said officials have been directed to be on the field and monitor the situation in their designated areas.
All political leaders, religious leaders, heads of organisations should be taken into confidence and their cooperation should be sought, and if possible peace meetings should be held, he said, adding officials have also been asked to keep strict vigil so that rumours and inciting messages don't spread through social media.
"Everyone should abide by the High Court order and special attention has to be paid so that not even a single untoward incident takes place for any reason. A message has to be sent to society that anti-social elements have been identified and they are being watched."
The minister said local administrations have been given the powers to act according to the situation and take immediate measures, instead of waiting for orders from the top.
Urging media to be cautious while reporting on the incidents, he said, "There have been no untoward incidents yesterday and today, but still old incidents have been repeatedly shown. Also, the media is requested to highlight the current peaceful situation."
Route march in Udupi
Security forces took out a route march in Udupi on Friday, ahead of the opening of schools.
According to media reports, the Karnataka Police and paramilitary forces took out the march in Udupi as the district was the centre of protests over Muslim students wearing hijab in educational institutions.
The New Indian Express reported that higher officials of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) too have arrived in Udupi to take stock of the situation.
Students find support
Meanwhile, a few faculty members of IIM Bangalore made an appeal to National Commission for Women (NCW) to protect the rights of Muslim girl students who are allegedly being intimidated in Karnataka. In their petition to the NCW, the faculty members said, “Women across all religions face patriarchal restrictions of one kind or the other. Certainly, we cannot condone such practices and we must work with men, women, and religious leaders to bring about change. But to single out one religious practice is not acceptable."
"The atmosphere of fear and intimidation will make parents hesitate to send daughters to schools and colleges. ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ will be an abject failure, not just for Muslim girls, but for girls across all communities,” the petition to NCW read.
Students of Azim Premji University in Bengaluru came out with a statement saying we should remember that it is our Constitutional duty as citizens to promote harmony and respect our composite culture.
“As students of a progressive country and the world’s largest democracy, we believe no institution should impose its belief on what one should wear, eat or say!," the statement read.
Protests for and against the hijab had intensified in parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places on Tuesday after the state government last week issued an order making uniforms prescribed by it or management of private institutions mandatory for its students in schools and pre-university colleges.
On Friday, the Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending considerations of all petitions related to the Hijab row, requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab and any religious flag within classrooms.
—With PTI inputs
