NAGAON, Oct 26 - Opposition AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam has criticised the Principal of ADP College, Nagaon for issuing a notice to the college students to come to college in a prescribed uniform.
Islam, an alumni of the college and whose daughter also studies there, has in a Facebook post, criticised Principal Dr SK Bhagawati, for issuing the notice and said that there will be no harm done to anybody, if one wears a hijab or naqab to college.
It may be mentioned here that students in almost all educational institutions of the State have a prescribed uniform. ADP College Nagaon, is also no exception. Though there is a prescribed uniform, students do not strictly wear it and for that the authority is forced to remind the students from time to time. Similarly, ADP College Principal Dr SK Bhagawati circulated a notice before the autumn vacation that the students have to wear the proper uniform while coming to the College after vacation.
Following the notice, most of the students came to college following the proper dress code.
But MLA Aminul Islam, the MLA from Dhing, stirred a controversy by issuing a Facebook post criticising the Principal for issuing the notice.
Talking to the media, Dr Bhagawati observed that students come to an educational institution to learn and Muslims comprise 20% of the students of the college. All students come to college in proper uniform but only one student was using burkha. However, the Principal said that he has not asked her personally not to come wearing a burkha to the college, but had issued a general notice to the students to come in college uniform.
On the other hand, the Muslim students of the college have also supported the move of the Principal. The students� union and the teachers� council have condemned MLA Aminul Islam for his controversial post.
PTI adds: 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 gazette notification, it is written that one cannot wear such outfits.�
�The college has been imparting education to students irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion for the last 60 years but you (Bhagawati) have tried to saffronise the education system in the college,� the MLA, a former student of the ADP College, said in the post written in Assamese.
He asked, �What was so bothersome about a few students attending the college wearing hijab or naqab? Does wearing decent clothes affect the college environment?� Islam said he has urged various student organisations to look into the matter, otherwise the principal would �ruin� the status, dignity, heritage and educational environment of the college.
