Hindu students from Belsar (Pune) taken to a dargah and forced to read namaz

Locals demand action against concerned headmaster and teacher

Pune – Children were forced to read namaz in Jilha Parishad Government school by the school headmaster, teachers and concerned education officer at Belsar in Purandar Taluka. Hindu children from the school were asked to read namaz in a local dargah. Maulana of the dargah distributed ice creams to the children for reading namaz. The local devout Hindus united to lodge a complaint with the Jejuri Police Station against the headmaster, teachers and other concerned education officers (who granted permission for such a thing) for forcing Hindu children to read namaz during the school time. The local residents have demanded dismissal of all the guilty in this case and conduct an impartial in-depth inquiry while warning to stage intense agitation. (Why such warning has to be given ? How did the Police not come to know such things ? When are the Police going to take action on their own in such cases ? – Editor) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Saswad, Tanaji Barade has promised to take necessary action in this context.

It has been mentioned in the complaint that forcing students to participate in a religious activity during the school time, violates the provisions of articles on secularism and national education policy. Belsar is known for the first freedom fight. Such incidents will not be tolerated in a town with a great historical background.

All pro-Hindu organisations came together

All pro-Hindu organisations viz. Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, through its member Ha Bha Pa Yogesh Badade Maharaj, BJP’s Pune District Vice President, ‘Sarnaubat Hambir rao Mohite Gou-shala’ President Pandit dada Modak, Yuva Sena District Chief (Shinde Sena), Tushar Hambhire from Pune, besides, Shri Shivapratishthan Hindustan, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Gourakshak Pune district, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, etc have united on the occasion.

Tushar Hambhire described it as a deliberate act to inculcate wrong sanskars in children at their impressionable age. It is misleading of children. Meetings are held to create awareness on this issue. He stated that a complaint would also be filed with the Home Minister.

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’s member Ha Bha Pa Yogesh Badade Maharaj criticised it as the most condemnable incident and expected it should not happen anywhere in India, while demanding action against the guilty persons.

It is a conspiracy of ‘Islamisation’ in this holy land of Jejuri – Pandit dada Modak

In the first battle fought for ‘Hindavi Swarajya’ by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on this land, the second army-leader Baji Pasalkar and Godaji Jagtap sacrificed their lives. It is a big crime if school children are forced to read namaz in a dargah on such holy land. The basic purpose of starting a dispute over the tomb of Aurangzeb needs to be investigated in-depth. The area of the tomb is slowly expanding. The Government should conduct an inquiry into this matter. It is a conspiracy of ‘Islamisation’ on this sacred land of Jejuri.

Editorial Perspective

Is Pune in Pakistan that children are forced to read namaz ? Police need to take the most stringent action against the concerned persons to prevent recurrence of such incidents. In an Islamic country, can Muslims be forced to recite Aarti in a Islamic school ?