Basavaraj Bommai, chief minister of Karnataka announced leave for all schools and colleges in the state for three days after the controversy over students wearing hijab on campus intensified with violence being reported from several districts. “I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate” read his tweet.

I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate.

— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) February 8, 2022

Earlier, in a confrontation that was caught on camera, a student in a hijab stood her ground as she was heckled by a large group of slogan shouting young men wearing saffron scarves at a college named Mandya Pre-university college in Karnataka. In the video, the young woman could be seen parking her scooter and heading towards the college campus.

On seeing her, a bunch of students wearing saffron scarves shouted “Jai Shree Ram” and advanced towards her. The lone student didn’t look intimidated as she was seen shouting back “All hu Akbar” by raising her hand. The men followed her when se walked forward. “What is the problem if I am wearing the burqa ?” she says to a person.

However, the men continued following the girl, chanting the slogan and the college officials stepped in to guard the girl and stopped the men. Watch the video below :

A more expanded and clean feed of the above episode. #KarnatakaHijabRow pic.twitter.com/TIieUQJUWN

— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) February 8, 2022

The video created huge outrage among the users of online platforms with many condemning the saffron boys for harassing a lone female student just because she is wearing a burqa. Hashtag “Shameful” is trending in the micro blogging social media site with many celebrities calling out the saffron boys.

Check out some of the reactions below :

The harassment of young Muslim girls in Karnataka, both by the State and the ABVP goons, is just a trailer to BJP’s ideal Bharat.
Hindu Bharat.
Absolutely shameful. https://t.co/HfaqaNnVdG

— Dipsita (@DharDipsita) February 8, 2022

Shameful. Bunch of louts hounding fellow student with whom they shared a classroom few days ago. Divide and rule. https://t.co/A3zV8k90x6

— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) February 8, 2022

அவள் உரிமை!
அவள் உடை !
அவள் நம்பிக்கை! #Hijab #StopThisViolence

— Ashaly P Joy (@AshalyPJoy) February 8, 2022

Raise your sons better! A bunch of ugly, cowards attacking a lone woman in a pack and feeling proud of it ? WHAT LOSERS! Shameful. They’ll be jobless, more frustrated and penniless in a few years. What poor upbringing! No sympathy, no redemption for them. I spit on your kind. https://t.co/tvsdBwREZO

— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) February 8, 2022

Shameful state of affairs.. https://t.co/5vWxDbnyAm

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 8, 2022

மத நல்லிணக்கம் வேற்றுமையில் ஒற்றுமை என்ற நம் பண்பாட்டையும், அரசியலமைப்புச் சட்டத்தையும், ஜனநாயகத்தையும் காப்பதற்கு ஒன்றுகூட வேண்டிய நேரமிது. பெண்கள் என்ன ஆடை உடுத்துகிறார்கள் என்பதில்லை இந்த சமூகத்தின் பிரச்சனை.
(2/2)

— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) February 8, 2022

இந்நிலை கண்டு வருத்தமும் அச்சமும் வருகிறது. பிஞ்சு நெஞ்சங்களில் மதவெறி எனும் நஞ்சு கலக்க விட்டுவிட்டோம். இது பெரியார் மண், இங்கு இது நடக்காது என்று அமைதியாக இருத்தல் ஆகாது. சுத்தமான ஒரு குடம் நீரை நஞ்சாக்க ஒரு துளி விஷம் போதும்#HijabIsIndividualRight

pic.twitter.com/h3XDJygMlk

— Naveen Mohamedali (@NaveenFilmmaker) February 8, 2022

Remember she is one of your classmate, don’t fall prey to communal poison 🙏🏻 https://t.co/FIhgix8pgW

— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) February 8, 2022

Shameful incident. But why does the camera follow her from the time she parks the vehicle? Was the person who recorded this expecting it? Maybe they started heckling as she came in and the cameraperson was quick to start recording? But it is a bit strange….. https://t.co/N1JelD0Gik

— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) February 8, 2022