College asks students to wear 'proper uniform', invites MLA's wrath

An MLA of the opposition AIUDF 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' (veil worn by Muslim women) and 'niqab' (clothing that covers the face), All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam said in a Facebook post.

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".

Of the 20 per cent Muslim students of the college, only the MLA's daughter comes in burqa, Bhagowati said, adding that he was feeling threatened and has lodged a police complaint over the Facebook post of the AIUDF leader.

In his October 24 post, 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 gazetted notification it is written that one cannot wear such outfits."
He asked, "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?"
Talking to the media, Bhagowati said, "All the students come to college in proper uniform as mentioned in the college prospectus. But only one student who is MLA Islam's daughter wears burqa in college."