Karnataka BJP stages protest after NEET aspirant asked to remove 'janeu' before exam

NEW DELHI: The opposition BJP in Karnataka staged a protest outside an examination centre after a student was made to remove his 'janeu' (sacred thread worn by Hindus) before appearing for a NEET examination on Sunday.
Shripad Patil was asked to get rid of his 'janeu' before entering the exam hall located at St. Mary's School in Kalaburagi. Patil's father said his son handed him the 'janeu' before entering the examination centre.
"He went in half an hour ago to write the exam...He was told to remove the 'janeu' and sent back outside to leave it here...I was outside and I wasn't allowed to go in...He placed the 'janeu' in my hand and then went in to write the exam...He is writing the NEET exam here," Sudhir Patil told news agency ANI.

This comes a week after Karnataka high court issued notices to the state government and Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) on a PIL alleging that CET exam centres in Bidar, Shivamogga, and Dharwad districts forced candidates to remove their Janivara or 'janeu'.
Appearing for petitioner Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, senior advocate S Sriranga also informed a division bench of chief justice NV Anjaria and justice KV Aravind that the CET candidates were mistreated during the math exam on April 17.
He submitted that the students who refused to remove their sacred threads were barred from entering the examination halls room, seeking a re-examination for the affected candidates. Sriranga submitted that KEA officials violated rights under Articles 21A (right to education), 25 (freedom to practice religion), and 29(2) (admission to educational institutions) of the Constitution.
The petitioner also informed the court that after the filing of the PIL, an FIR was filed in the case. The petitioner also sought directions for the formulation of clear guidelines governing exam conduct and frisking procedures by KEA officials. The high court will hear the case on June 9.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also opposed the order prohibiting religious symbols in railway exam centers, stating that while checking religious items is acceptable, their removal is inappropriate.
Shivakumar said that authorities can inspect religious symbols but shouldn't require their removal.
"When it's a religious thing like a 'Mangalsutra' or a 'janeu' (sacred thread), they can check it if required, but removing them is not correct. We are clearly saying that any such religious symbols, earrings, mangalsutra, janeu, or a hip band, they can check it. It is not wrong. But, in the past, there have been some issues where people kept a small device in their ears. It is not right. It (the order) must be taken back... I think that anything that creates anger among the people must be removed. I demand that such rules be removed," said DK Shivakumar.