An MLA of the Opposition All India United Democratic Front has charged the authorities of a premier college in Assam’s Nagaon district with “saffronising” the college environment by asking the students to wear “proper uniform”.
There cannot be any harm if some girl students go to college in hijab and niqab , AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said in a Facebook post.
Anandaram Dhekial Phookan College Principal Surajit Kumar Bhagowati on Friday said he did not ban any religious outfit and only issued a notice before the autumn vacation asking students to wear “proper uniform”.
Of the 20% Muslim students of the college, only the MLA’s daughter comes in burqa, Dr. Bhagowati said, adding that he was feeling threatened and has lodged a police complaint over the Facebook post.
“All the students come to college in proper uniform as mentioned in the college prospectus. But only one student, MLA Islam’s daughter, wears burqa in college,” he said.
In his October 24 post, Mr. Islam said, “No such decision (banning religious outfits) was taken in the last 60 years of the college’s existence. I would like to know where in the Indian Constitution or the State gazette notification it is written that one cannot wear such outfits.”