Ten students of Jamia Millia Islamia said that they were barred from participating in a National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp at Rohini in New Delhi due to their beards.
The students said that the authorities asked them to shave overnight or leave the camp. They said that their refusal to do so met with an eviction order, KMS reported.
The students said that they asked the authorities to mention the reason for their eviction on the notice, but were simply given notices for indiscipline. The students stayed outside the NCC camp for a night and reached Jamia the next morning where student organisations protested against the discrimination. The NCC cadets also met the Jamia VC.
Dilshad Ahmed, one of the students, said, “We were evicted only because of our beards. On the first day of our camp we had written an application, saying our beards have a religious importance and we should be told if there is a problem. But suddenly on the sixth day of the camp, the authorities said either shave your beard or leave”.
“We decided not to shave and asked them to give us an out pass or movement order so that we can leave. But we were denied that,” he said.
Another student said while the Indian Army only allowed Sikhs to wear turbans and beards, the act through which NCC was set up does not mention anything about beard. “We asked the commanding officer to mention the specific charge but he just said indiscipline,” he said.
The students said that they were also told that ‘now it is Modi’s rule’. Lt-Col Yadav told the media that they had told the students to shave as part of discipline of NCC. “They said they have their religious beliefs. I told them it was their wish if they wanted to follow their religion… and if they’re not comfortable, they’re at liberty to move out… I have been in the army for 26 years and that’s the discipline I understand that everyone has to shave, barring Sikh gentlemen,” he said.
