In Dehradun, some people associated with Hindutva groups, demanded suspension of the recognition of a school named Bright Angel Public School because it finished the school hour one and a half hour before on Friday
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Some government as well as private schools are being targeted for declaring holiday on Friday instead of Sunday.
In Dehradun, some people associated with Hindutva groups, demanded suspension of the recognition of a school named Bright Angel Public School because it finished the school hour one and a half hour before on Friday. The school is the target of Hindutva groups because the founder of the school is said to be Muslim, MK Hussain, who is a retired Army officer.
They ran a campaign against the school on social media, held protests and burnt effigies. Rakesh Tomar Uttarakhandi, who described himself as founder of Rudra Sena, wrote against the school for several days on social media. He also called for a boycott of the school.
Hindu Raksha Sena’s President Swami Prabodhanand Giri, one of the priests who made hate speeches at Haridwar Dharam Sansad, also lent his voice against the school. He called the school “a factory of Jihadis and Pakistani agents” and demanded the arrest of School’s manager.
According to reports, the local administration summoned the school authorities and sought clarification in this regard. Subsequently, the school authorities tendered apologies and cancelled Friday’s half holiday.
The targeting of the Dehradun school came months after the Jharkhand government changed the Friday holiday of 43 government schools to Sunday. The state government also dissolved the management of those schools. BJP MP Sunil Soren had urged the Central government to take cognizance of Friday holiday issue.
The issue now is highlighted in Bihar where reports of Friday holiday are coming from Seemanchal region. Hindi dailies are investigating how many schools are declaring Friday as holiday. Hindustan Times have reported that around 500 schools in Bihar observed Fridays as its weekly off for years.
However, the Bihar officials said that there is nothing unusual about it. It has been going on for a long time.
Kishanganj DEO Subhash Kumar Gupta said, “There is nothing unusual in this. It is prevalent almost everywhere in Bihar.”
Meanwhile, the BJP, Which is part of the government in the state, has criticized it.
“India is a secular country and making rules to suit one’s religion is not permissible under the Constitution. If the schools are closed on Friday to suit Muslims, Hindus may demand to close the schools on Tuesday. This kind of practice should not be promoted for religious appeasement,” BJP state spokesperson Nikhil Anand was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.
Clarion Indian approached some Muslim groups and leaders to seek their response but they said that they are unaware of the issue. Hence, they refused to comment.
