Chikkamagaluru: All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) state committee has condemned incidents in which students appearing for the CET exam were allegedly forced to remove their janivara, despite Karnataka Examination Authority guidelines stating that students should not be asked to remove personal religious symbols.AIDSO said that in some colleges, students were pressured to remove the janivara. It cited a recent incident in Chikkaballapura, where authorities asked a student to remove it, and said similar incidents had occurred last year as well.According to Chaitra, AIDSO Chikkamagaluru district convenor, when religious festivals and activities are organised in educational institutions — including govt and private — targeting students’ personal beliefs causes deep psychological trauma.She said Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda had stated that the true mark of a secular nation lies in not identifying or promoting religion in social matters. Yet, she said, such incidents continue to be reported, remain unchecked, and personally target students.According to her, these incidents began with the hijab controversy, when young women were targeted for wearing hijab and their right to education was curtailed.AIDSO believes true secularism does not lie in attacking personal beliefs but in the govt not patronising any religion. Targeting students in the name of religious symbols is contrary to secular principles, she said.In the interest of students, AIDSO appealed to the state govt to intervene and take strict action against those hurting the minds of young students, and demanded firm steps to strengthen genuine secularism in educational institutions
