Udupi girls denied entry into PU exam hall

By NT Correspondent

Udupi: Two Udupi girls could not write the second Pre-University College (PUC) examination after government officials denied them entry to the hall wearing hijab.

Alia Assadi and Reshma, who first approached the court with a plea to allow them to wear hijab in classrooms, reached the Vidyodaya Pre-University College to write their examination on Friday morning.

They pleaded with the invigilators and the college principal for more than 30 minutes, but the officials said they cannot grant them any exception. Following this, the girls quietly left the college premises. The principal of the Vidyodaya College said the girls came to college only to create an issue. “They had no intention of writing the exams. Their sole aim was to create an issue,” said Principal Sandeep Kumar.

Education Minister B C Nagesh told reporters in Chikkamagaluru that the girls skipped the examination because of their ‘ego’. “They have lost the case. This ego should go away and it will take time,” he said.
Later, Alia tweeted that she was disappointed after being denied the chance to appear for the examination. “Again and again we face disappointment,” she tweeted.

The girls collected their hall tickets just before the examination. Recently, Alia had requested Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to allow her to write examinations wearing hijab.

Over 6.84 lakh students are appearing for the examination, which will continue till May 18.