On Hijab Order, Petitioners Say "Injustice", "Betrayed By Our Own Country"

The five young women from Karnataka's Udupi -- whose petition seeking that hijab be allowed in educational institutions got turned down by the High Court today -- told the media that they feel "betrayed" by the country. The issue of hijab, which should have been "resolved at a local level, now had acquired political and communal overtones," they said. Declaring they will not drop out of college because of the setback, they said they will sit for exams in hijab.

 "It's very unfortunate. We have been denied our fundamental rights. The high court has said that it is not a part of the essential religions practice. But that's wrong. The high court has denying that," they said at a press conference this afternoon.

"We want hijab. We won't go to college without the hijab," they said, insisting that headscarves for women are an essential part of their religion and is mentioned in the Quran.