Ernakulam : A day after a section of students protested against the alleged ‘high handedness’ of the Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam by not allowing girls from the Muslim community to perform Namaz near the rest room in the college and the college authorities asserting that they cannot allow girl students to perform Namaz inside the college premises, various Muslim groups including the Muvattupuzha ‘Mahallu’ committee and the Muslim League (IUML) expressed regret over the incident.
Senior Muslim league leaders also met the principal Father Justin and held talks over the issue.
Various Muslim groups from Ernakulam spoke to the principal of Nirmala college and said that they are supportive of the stance taken by the college and the concerned students who protested next to the principal’s chamber are at fault.
“Yes, there was a mistake on the part of few students who protested next to the principal chamber. Islam has prescribed specific methods for prayer and rituals. Even if there is a small misrepresentation from the community, wrongdoers will take advantage of it”, said PS Latheef, member of the Mahallu committee to News9.
Surprisingly, a day after the show of support to the students who held the protest, none of the student groups including the SFI, KSU and the MSF reiterated the support. While reaching out to the SFI leaders over the matter, none of the leaders were available for comments.
The protest began when few girls were offering Namaz at a rest room adjacent to the principal chamber on July 15th. A senior faculty of the college who noticed it objected to the girls’ conducting prayers and advised them to offer prayers at a mosque situated next to the college. However, the girls who replied that they were offering prayers at the place for the past one year left the place and informed their colleagues who took up the matter with the principal.
Meanwhile, more students supported by the SFI, KSU and MSF pledged support for the girls and protested outside the principal chamber leading to a war of words.
However, the college management said no religious activity will be allowed on the campus as it is a secular institution. Students who give a written request will be allowed to go to the nearby mosque for prayers and they will be given relaxation on attendance.
Various Muslim groups from Ernakulam spoke to the principal of Nirmala college and said that they are supportive of the stance taken by the college and the concerned students who protested next to the principal’s chamber are at fault. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
