Do Karnataka hijab protests have a link with an anti-rape agitation by ABVP?

While protests over hijab restrictions in Karnataka’s schools and colleges spread to other parts of the country, reports have emerged suggesting that they might have a link with an anti-rape agitation by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the state on October 30.

Hearing a petition over the hijab row in Karnataka, the Supreme Court rejected an urgent hearing on February 11 and said it would interfere only at an appropriate time.

This was a day after the Karnataka High Court advised students to avoid wearing religious garments on campus until it decides on a case involving hijab restrictions in schools and colleges.

While protests over hijab restrictions in Karnataka’s schools and colleges spread to other parts of the country, reports have emerged suggesting that they might have a link with an anti-rape agitation by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the state on October 30.

The ABVP protest in Udupi, the epicentre of demonstrations over hijab restrictions, was to demand a probe into the alleged rape of a Manipal student.

Aliya Assadi, Bibi Ayesha Palavkar, Ayesha Hazara Almas and Muskaan Zainab are four of the six petitioners from the Government College in Udupi.

There are reports that Muskaan Zainab had participated in the ABVP protest. There is a theory that the Campus Front of India (CFI) had taken offence: How can Muslim students participate in an ABVP protest?

Udupi Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishnuvardhan said, “We cannot confirm whether the October protest led to this hijab issue; there is no intelligence report from our side.”