Hijab protests force Indian govt to close schools

It was reported that the authorities in southern India ordered schools to shut down as protests intensified over a ban on hijab that had angered Muslim students. The stand-off in Karnataka state has incited fears among the minority community about what they say was increasing persecution under the Hindu nationalist government of PM Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed for calm after announcing all high schools in the state would be closed for three days. “I appeal to all the students, teachers, and management of schools and colleges [...] to maintain peace and harmony,” he said.