A school in Hyderabad has been accused of forcibly teaching Kalma and giving Islamic prayers in homework to Hindu students. Taking cognizance of the matter, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Telangana government.
New Delhi [भारत]July 17 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Telangana government over allegations that a school in Hyderabad discriminated against Hindu students on religious grounds by allegedly asking them to recite Kalma and giving Islamic prayers as homework.
Speaking to ANI, NHRC member Priyank Kanungo said that the commission has taken cognizance of a complaint filed by Seva Nyay Utthan Foundation. Kanungo said, “We received a complaint from an organization called Seva Nyaya Utthan Foundation, alleging that a school in Hyderabad is discriminating against children on religious grounds. The complaint also claims that Hindu students are being forced to recite the Kalma and are being given Islamic prayers as homework. This appears to be a serious violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution. We have issued a notice to the Telangana government in this matter.”
Congress leader condemned the incident
Responding to the controversy, senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao condemned the alleged incident and said that religious practices should not be imposed in educational institutions. Rao told ANI, “There is a Muslim teacher who is forcing children to recite Kalma. This is a religious matter, and forcing children like this is not right. The government should take this issue very seriously. This is a secular country. Everyone has the right to practice their religion in their own homes, but not inside any educational institution.”
He welcomed the suspension of the teacher and urged the Telangana government to ensure strict action in such cases. He said, “I congratulate the Home Department and the police for taking immediate action and suspending the teacher. I request Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Home Minister to ensure that such incidents are not tolerated in any school, as it can lead to law and order problems.”
BJP leader raised questions on police
Meanwhile, lawyer and BJP leader Karuna Sagar alleged that the police initially attempted to hush up the case and filed the FIR only after the intervention of the NHRC. He questioned whether it was appropriate to give the Kalma and Surah Al-Fatiha as homework to a six-year-old child and sought clarification from the police on their handling of the case.
The BJP leader said, “When a group of us went to question the police about their attempt to close the case, which we saw as a conspiracy, and to ask why an FIR was not registered, the police department refused to answer. Instead, adopting a dictatorial attitude, they arrested many of us and detained them in various police stations. When I learned that the child’s family was considering withdrawing their complaint due to police pressure, I personally filed a complaint against the school. I just want to ask: Is it right or wrong for a school to give homework or activities to a 6 year old child to learn Surah Al-Fatiha? As per the guidelines of the police department, regarding yesterday’s incidents, the whole matter has come to light, asking for a report on the incident and the action taken by the National Human Rights Commission. It was after the notice was issued that the police finally filed an FIR last night… Why was the police protecting the school instead of exposing the conspiracy? The police will have to answer for this.” (ANI)
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