Burqa Politics: Assam MLA Accuses Principal Of ‘Saffronisation’ Even As Minority Students Support School’s ‘Proper Uniform’ Policy 

The authorities of a premier college in Assam's Nagaon district have been accused of "saffronising" the college environment by asking the students to wear "proper uniform".

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam said in a Facebook post, “There cannot be any harm if some girl students go to college in 'hijab' (veil worn by Muslim women) and 'niqab' (clothing that covers the face)” as reported by TOI.

Responding to the allegation by the opposition leader, principal of Anandaram Dhekial Phookan (ADP) College Dr 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".

He further added that out of the 20 per cent Muslim students of the college, only the MLA's daughter wears a burqa in college. He was feeling threatened and has lodged a police complaint over the Facebook post of the AIUDF leader, the principal said.

On being asked whether he has banned 'hijab' and 'niqab' in the college, the principal said he neither ordered any such ban nor did he ask any student not to wear burqa in the campus.

The MLA, a former student of the ADP College, asked in the post written in Assamese, “Is the college your paternal property? What was so bothersome about a few students attending the college wearing 'hijab' or 'niqab'? Does wearing decent clothes affect the college environment?”

The college's Students Union and the Teachers' Council have criticised the MLA for the social media post. The Muslim students have also come out in support of the move of the principal.

They said before journalists that if students of different religious communities insist on coming in their respective outfits to the institute, the secular environment of the college will be vitiated.