A Karnataka college on Monday sent girls fighting for their right to wear hijab to a separate room without permission to attend any class, as the row over the headscarf continued unabated with more colleges in the state witnessing counter protests by students wearing saffron scarves.

More than 20 Muslim students, who have been protesting outside the campus of Government Pre-University College at Kundapura in Udupi district since Thursday, were sent to an empty room on the campus. Besides getting the students away from the streets where they have been attracting public attention, the move by the college administration was aimed at addressing their complaints that they were being denied even toilet facilities.

The state government had on Saturday banned clothes that “disturb equality, integrity and public order in schools and colleges” following protests by Sangh parivar groups that got students at several colleges in the state to wear saffron scarves as a counter campaign.

The BJP government had invoked Section 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, that empowers authorities concerned to direct educational institutions on such matters. The order came just days before Karnataka High Court was set to hear a petition filed by a student of the Government Pre-University College in Udupi where the issue first cropped up.

It was the denial of entry to eight Muslim girls at the Udupi college that sparked the hijab row. The hijab-wearing girls have been spending time on the campus without permission to attend any classes. The issue has since spread across the state with several colleges turning away hijab-wearing students.

Hijab-wearing students of Kalavara Varadaraj M. Shetty First Grade College in Kundapura, too, were stopped at the gates on Monday. Vice-principal Usha Devi told reporters that they were sent home after they refused to remove their hijab. “We asked them to attend classes after removing the hijab, which they refused. We then asked them to wait till Tuesday’s court hearing,” she said, although it is not clear if any orders will be issued on Tuesday.

Hundreds of students protested by wearing saffron scarves at one more pre-university college in Kundapura, a degree college in neighbouring Manipal and two colleges in Bijapur district on Monday in a clear indication that Sangh parivar organisations were using their influence among students to raise their voice against hijab.

Leader of the Opposition P.C. Siddaramaiah termed it a violation of the students’ fundamental rights. “Constitution has given the right to practice any religion which means one can wear any clothes according to their religion. Prohibiting ‘Hijab’ wearing students from entering school is a violation of fundamental rights,” he tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “By letting students’ hijab come in the way of their education, we are robbing the future of the daughters of India. Ma Saraswati gives knowledge to all. She doesn’t differentiate.”

But the BJP government refused to budge from its position. Primary and secondary education minister B.C. Nagesh said students unwilling to abide by the rules could seek other options.

“All students must wear uniform and no one will be allowed to wear hijab or scarves. Once you are inside the campus you must be in uniform,” he told reporters.

He had on Sunday urged those insisting on wearing hijab to look for other colleges where it was allowed.