Manager has also been accused of running the school illegally.
AB Wire
A private school in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad that apparently never allowed the singing of the national anthem deeming it “un-Islamic”, has been shut down and its manager has been arrested after the principal and several teachers resigned over his refusal to allow the anthem this Independence Day.
Mohammad Zia-ul Haq, the manager of MA Convent School in Sadiyabad locality of Allahabad district, has been arrested under law against “Insults to National Honour”. He has also been accused of running the school illegally.
“The national anthem has a line, ‘Bharat bhagya vidhata’, which is against Islam as Allah is our bhagya vidhata. How can we say Bharat has made our destiny, In the national anthem, the country has been described as being bigger and more important than mazhab (religion) and khuda (god), which is unacceptable for any true Muslim,” Haq told to the media contacted him.
Haq also said that this was not the first time the school had barred the national anthem, He said this has been the practice ever since the school was set up.
“Most of us have not been working here for a very long time. We were shocked to learn that the school has never allowed the singing of national anthem in the last 12 years,” said Ritu Tripathi, the school’s principal, who resigned yesterday along with seven teachers.
“We were asked to fall in line or leave, so we chose a decision based on our conscience,” she said.
She also added that she was contemplating legal action against the school manager.
Andre Vamsi, a senior district official told to media that Mr Haq’s statements had caused “tension in society” and complaints had been filed against him.
The school has about 300 students from nursery to Class 8.