“Uniform Means Equality, Not Different Rules for Different Religions”: MLA Zubair Anam

Tension gripped Silchar on Thursday (August 27) as NSUI members, led by Algapur-Katlicherra MLA Zubair Anam, staged a protest over the recent clash at Cachar College linked to the hijab controversy. The situation turned tense when police stopped the protesters from taking out a rally, leading to a confrontation and scuffle-like situation between NSUI members and police.

The protest was called following the clash between students associated with ABVP and NSUI at Cachar College on Tuesday, August 25. Several NSUI students were reportedly injured in the violence, with allegations that some female students wearing hijabs were also assaulted.

On Thursday, NSUI members attempted to take out a procession from the Silchar District Congress office. Police stopped the rally, following which the situation became heated. Protesters, including Anam, later crossed the police barricade and moved towards the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Cachar, where they staged a demonstration for several hours.

Anam, along with an NSUI delegation, later met the SSP and submitted a memorandum demanding stronger security for students at Cachar College and appropriate action over the recent violence.

Addressing media, Anam said the alleged assault on students and the reported threats against them were serious concerns. He questioned how students could continue their education if they did not feel safe inside their own college.

“If students do not feel safe inside their own college, then how can the general public feel safe?” he said, adding that students had allegedly been assaulted while wearing their college uniforms and some had reportedly been threatened against attending classes.

He said the opposition had a responsibility to stand with students and claimed that student protection was a basic right.

Anam also raised the issue of fees for students from Below Poverty Line, or BPL, families. He claimed that after the earlier fee waiver was discontinued, several economically weaker students were forced to leave their education. He further alleged that existing students were now facing concerns over their safety.

According to Anam, the SSP gave a positive response to the delegation and assured them that security personnel would be deployed from Thursday to ensure that students do not face further attacks.

The MLA also said he supported the principle that the prescribed college uniform should be equal for everyone. However, he argued that enforcing a common uniform should not result in different standards being applied to different religious identities.

He said wearing a dupatta over the head should not automatically be banned, just as students should not be barred from wearing a tilak or a pagri. According to him, rules regarding uniforms should apply equally to all students and should not discriminate between religions.

After receiving the assurance from the SSP, NSUI withdrew its protest.

The latest protest comes amid continuing tension over Tuesday’s (August 25) clash at Cachar College. The violence reportedly broke out during an NSUI membership drive after objections were raised over some female students wearing hijabs.

Cachar College Principal Apratim Nag had earlier told Barak Bulletin that the NSUI membership drive was conducted with permission from the college administration. He also said the administration would try to ensure that students followed the institution’s prescribed uniform.

The college uniform notice states that male students must wear trousers and shirts, while female students must wear salwar-kameez or churidar-kameez with a dupatta. It also states that no alteration, modification or deviation from the prescribed uniform is permitted.

The controversy had intensified a day before the clash when a section of Cachar College students submitted a memorandum to the Cachar District Commissioner demanding a ban on Muslim students wearing religious attire, including hijabs and topis, inside the college.

Meanwhile, ABVP has filed a complaint with police, demanding a fair investigation into the August 25 clash and action against those responsible. The organisation has also alleged that it was being wrongly blamed on social media and has sought an investigation based on evidence.