BENGALURU : As the hijab row turned violent on Tuesday, the State Government declared a three-day holiday for high schools and colleges. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed to students to maintain peace as the situation threatened to go out of control.

The violence hit the education system even as it was returning to normal and offline classes had started just a few days ago. The students have taken to the streets at a time when they should be preparing for exams, which are two months away.

In Mandya, students wearing saffron shawls gathered outside colleges in the district raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans. A hijab-wearing student at PES College in Mandya was heckled by boys, and the college staff had to rush to her rescue. Several girls wearing hijab returned to hostels in fear as students protested outside colleges at Mandya and Pandavapura in the district.

At the Government Degree College at Bapuji Nagar in Shivamogga, miscreants threw stones at students, injuring two of them. A saffron flag was hoisted in the college by students, while the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Later, prohibitory orders were imposed in the town. In Harihar, police lobbed teargas shells and lathi-charged protesting students, who were indulging in stone-throwing.

The hijab row that started at a college in Udupi district has quickly spread to most parts of the state, including Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Hubballi, Hassan, Kolar, Kodagu and Kalaburgi. Students wearing hijabs and saffron shawls and groups supporting them resorted to protests. As the situation was getting out of control, many colleges declared holidays even before the government made the announcement. 

Wearing hijab comes under privacy rights, argues counsel

Devadatt Kamat argued that wearing the hijab is essential religious practice as prescribed by the Quran and wearing it comes under privacy rights. As hijab is part of attire, the Government Order mandating uniform partakes the character of right to expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Prescription of uniform is against the protection of religious practice under Article 25. The three judgments of Bombay, Kerala and Madras HCs are not relevant to this case and hence, this cannot be a foundation for the state’s uniform policy. He also said they are not trying to incite any trouble and are quietly practising their faith.

Issue raised in Parliament
Congress MP from Karnataka L Hanumanthaiah raised the hijab row issue in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking during zero hour, he said that Karnataka is facing intense student protests as girls wearing hijab were not allowed to attend classes. Another MP Naseer Hussain supported him. They alleged that the state government failed to control the situation, which was opposed by BJP members.

Parmesh S Jain

Bengaluru CCB police undertakes a special drive across the city to check on foreign nationals and their activities.

A special drive was organised under the leadership and able guidance of Commissioner of police, Kamal Pant who asked Joint CP Crime, Raman Gupta to conduct a massive drive as to control illegal activities and drug abuse in the city.

Around 100 officials from Central Crime Branch participated in a special drive across the city to check on Foreign nationals staying illegally and involved in anti social activities .

As many as 27 Foreign Nationals including 11 women were not having the travel documents in order and have been sent to detention center and cases handed over to FRRO for further action, a police officer,said.

The drive launched in the early hours of Monday morning and as many as 43 houses rented out by Foreign Nationals in and around KR Puram, Ramamurthynagar,Hennur,Banasawadi,Kothanur, Sampigehalli,Bagaluru and Yelahanka were searched to look for possible narcotics.

In another case the police have registered a case against foreign national under passport act in Hennur police station and further investigation is on.

Finally Bengaluru police commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Joint CP Crime,Raman Gupta,DCP Crime-1,Dr SD Sharanappa,DCP crime-2,BS Angadi,and other all officers who were part of this drive a special reward will be given to the team for their excellent work he added.

Parmesh S Jain

Two armed men robbed a 27-year-old cab driver at knife point while he was taking a nap on roadside at 5th main HSR layout on Sunday night .

The victim,Srinath was waiting for the customers and dozed off when he woke up to knock on the window.

As soon as Srinath opened the window, they duo barged into the car, threatened him at knife point and took away his gold chain, mobile phone and wallet before fleeing away on the bike.

The police have taken up a case of robbery and verifying CCTV footage from him.We have some clues on the accused and will be arrested soon,a senior police officer, said.

Parmesh S Jain

A 46-year-old assaulted,stripped humiliated and robbed by her neighbour over a trivial row in Bellanduru on Friday.

Adding to the worst the police refused to take her complaint and assaulted her son who was trying to record their inaction on his mobile phone.

Bruised and battered she approached city police commissioner Kamal Pant on Saturday and filed a petition seeking action against the accused.

The victim had gone to visit her ailing mother staying close to her house and started cleaning the house outside.This has irked her neighbour, Ramu Munivenkatappa,without any provocation attacked her stripped and started beating her.

Soon his son joined and both assaulted the victim unless she passed out in front of the house.

In the melee her gold chain worth Rs 1.2 lakh was missing.Meanwhile her son returned from college and saw mother lying unconcious with stripped cloths.

He brought water and spinkled on her and the Hoysala patrolling vehicle reached the spot and took stock of the situation.

The victim and her son was later sent to station in an autorikshaw to report the matter.But as soon as they reached the station, the police abused and refused to take complaint and asked her to get out of the station.

shocked by the behaviour when the son identified as Goutham,started recording the behaviour of the police,they dragged him inside the station and beat him before deleting the video.

She even went to the jurisdictional DCP office but the officer was not present and the office staff asked her to come the next day.

Humiliated and shocked victim returned and with the help of a good samaritans,she filed a complaint with the commissioner and the complaint was forwarded to the DCP office.

On Monday the staff of the DCP told her when she went to meet again asked her to go and meet the police personnel at Bellandur police station.

Parmesh S Jain

Central projects related to the state in Irrigation, Railways,Urban Development,Ports and Highways departments came up for discussion at the meeting with MPs of the State.

We had cordial discussions on issues to be raised at the Centre,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to media persons after his meeting with the State MPs,Bommai said, Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman too participated in the meeting.

She has assured of all measures to implement all the projects announced in the Union Budget. Siraman has also assured all the grants for the state under the 15th Finance Commission.

“During the the meeting with the Finance Minister we also discussed the Rs.1 lakh crore capital grant in the form of interest free on a 50 year term. The share of Karnataka is estimated to be around Rs.3800 cr to Rs.4000 cr in the capital grant,” Bommai said. 

Parmesh S Jain

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has requested the Union government to extend the GST compensation for a period upto 2024-25.

Bommai presented the request when he called on Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman in New Delhi on Monday.

The period of GST compensation, being paid by the Union government, is set to end in March 2022.But the states are facing resource crunch due to Covid 19 impact.

In this background the Union government should extend the GST compensation time limit upto 2024-25 to help the states, Bommai requested.

The Union government had provided GST compensation for the last two years through loans.

The same gesture should continue for three more years and the loans could be repaid through collection of GST Cess, the Chief Minister conveyed to the Finance Minister. 

Parmesh S Jain

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has requested Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman for a grant of Rs.5030cr for all round development of Kalyana Karnataka region under various central sponsored programmes.

“In accordance with the discussions held recently at the Conference of South Zone Board,Andhra Pradesh had sought a special grant for the development of its backward districts.

Similarly Karnataka too had pointed out that the Kalyana Karnataka region had many districts that were among the most backward in the country. Special status has been accorded for the region through amendment of article 371(J) of the Constitution.

Reservation has been provided for the region in employment and education.But special attention is needed for the development of the region.

The region lags behind in the multidimensional poverty index of the Niti Ayog too.So the Union government should provide a grant of Rs.5030cr for the region under Central sponsored programmes,” Bommai requested.