A protest erupted outside a junior college in Mumbai's western suburb on Thursday, highlighting tensions over religious attire in educational institutions. Members of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and several female students of Vivek Vidyalaya & Junior College in Goregaon West demonstrated against what they alleged was a ban on wearing the hijab within the institute.
College Denies Allegations, Cites Misrepresentation
In response to the escalating situation, the college administration issued a swift clarification. The principal of Vivek Vidyalaya & Junior College, Sheeja Menon, addressed the matter in a formal letter. She explicitly stated that the institute has "no reservation for Muslim girl students wearing hijab" and emphasized that there is no ban on the practice.
Principal Menon suggested that a serious miscommunication was at the heart of the dispute. She described the incident as an "unnecessary issue which was totally avoidable," stemming from a misrepresentation of the college's stance.
Protest and Police Action
The demonstration was led by Farooq Maqbool Shabdi, the president of AIMIM's Mumbai unit. Shabdi claimed that the protest was organized after some students approached his party with complaints. "Some students had approached us complaining that they were told to remove hijab before entering classrooms," he stated. He added that the college management only communicated that there was no ban after the protest began.
The protest gained significant attention after a video from the scene went viral on various social media platforms throughout the day. Following the demonstration, the Mumbai police registered a First Information Report (FIR). According to police officials, a few students have been booked under charges of disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant.
However, the authorities confirmed that no arrests were made. A police officer involved stated that the matter was eventually settled peacefully, bringing a temporary close to the immediate confrontation.
Broader Context and Resolution
This incident in Goregaon West adds to a series of similar debates concerning hijab in educational spaces across India. While the college's official position denies any restrictive policy, the protest underscores the sensitivity and immediate reactions such perceptions can trigger.
The filing of the FIR indicates the legal dimensions that such public demonstrations can entail, even when they are resolved without further escalation. The event highlights the critical need for clear and unambiguous communication between educational institutions and their students to prevent misunderstandings related to religious practices and dress codes.
