CET sacred thread row: ‘Dream of becoming an engineer shattered’, says aggrieved student

The Karnataka Examination Authority has directed the deputy commissioners of Shivamogga and Bidar districts to file a comprehensive report about two separate incidents where students appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET) were asked to remove the "janivaara" (sacred thread).

 

While, students at Shivamogga had removed the "janivaara" and other religious wrist bands, a student in Bidar refused to remove it and was denied entry.

 

KEA executive director H. Prasanna clarified that the dress code guidelines did not mandate the removal of janivaara and condemned the incident, while assuring a probe and stringent action against the officials responsible for it.

 

Meanwhile, the Higher Education minister Dr M.C. Sudhakar and Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa have both condemned the incident and assured of stern action against the erring officials. However, the government is yet to clarify on how it would compensate the students who were denied entry to the examination hall.

 

"The customs and traditions of every religion and community should be respected. Forcing the students to remove the 'janivaara' was uncalled for and the officials will face action. We will look into an alternative for the student who could not write the exam," said Sudhakar.

 

Suchivrat Kulkarni, the PU student who had appeared for the CET exam at Sai Spoorthi College in Bidar, was denied entry to the examination centre by the screening committee officials after he refused to remove the 'janivaara'. The student had appeared for Physics and Chemistry exams the previous day without any hassle. But he had to return home without writing the Maths exam as the officials barred him from attending it.

 

"My hard work of two years has been wasted as I was denied an opportunity to write the Maths exam. They have shattered my dream of becoming an engineer. I am deeply pained by this behaviour as I was sent back just because I was wearing the janivaara. I refused to remove it as my parents would not have approved it,” said Kulkarni who was allowed to appear for the Biology exam the same day afternoon.

 

Neetha Kulkarni, the student's mother said she was devastated as the family had taken a loan for her son's CET coaching and his dreams of becoming an engineer were shattered. "The officials have insulted my son even after he pleaded that he could not remove the sacred thread. The officials even made atrocious comments that they feared my son might strangle himself with the thread if he did not know the answers and they did not want to be held responsible for it."

 

Meanwhile, BJP leaders termed the Siddaramaiah government "anti Hindu".

 

"Siddaramaiah has hatred towards vermillion and saffron. Today, he has displayed his anti-Hindu mindset by targeting 'janivaara'. The sacred thread is worn not only by Brahmins, but also Vaishyas and Marathas. The Hindu sentiment has been hurt,"said LoP R. Ashok.

 

Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha has strongly condemned the incident and demanded suspension of the concerned officials and urged the chief minister to give the aggrieved student an alternative.  

India