UP’s Hindu College denies entry to students wearing burqas, sparks protests

Hindu College, which was established in 1911, is one of the oldest and most renowned institutions in western UP that is affiliated to Rohilkhand University in Bareilly.

On Wednesday, as the students continued to protest, Professor Shalini Rai and other college teachers stepped out to persuade them to follow the new dress code but the students did not relent.

The protesters were later joined by activists of the Samajwadi Party’s youth wing who said that denying entry to these students would lead to a sense of insecurity among them. “The new dress code is surprising and also smacks of a hidden political motive to perturb those belonging to a particular community. When Sikhs are allowed to enter any college wearing turban with kirpan, why then sartorial rules are meant to restrict only Muslim women? We will continue to agitate against the move,” said Aslam Chaudhary, chief of the Samajwadi Party’s Moradabad youth wing.

Chief proctor Singh said the college management’s decision is applicable to all. “None regardless of their religion will be allowed to enter the premises without wearing proper uniform. We are ready to come out with solutions on a priority basis if the students have other issues than the dress code, which was implemented on January 1, and is being strictly enforced since January 14,” he clarified.

The protesting students – most of them stayed away from college on Thursday – said they would oppose the dress code. “We will decide our future course of action in a day or two,” a student said.