UP govt school principal suspendedfor ‘forcing students to offer namaz’ | Agra News
AGRA: A principal of a govt primary school in Mathura district has been suspended with “immediate effect” after the 53-year-old was accused by a local politician of “forcing students to offer namaz and brainwashing the children to follow his faith”.Basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) Ratan Kirti said on Monday that following the complaint by a BJP functionary, a probe was initiated, and after a preliminary inquiry, the block education officer took action against Jaan Mohammed. The BSA stated, “the principal was found, prima facie, guilty of not discharging his official duties properly and violating UP Govt Servant (Discipline And Appeal) Rules, 1999.”Terming the allegations “serious”, Kirti added that it was “an interim action to ensure a fair investigation, and a final call will be taken once the probe panel submits its findings”.In his complaint in a letter dated Jan 30, Durgesh Pradhan, the BJP functionary, had alleged: “Jaan Mohammad misleads children and motivates them towards his religion. He also makes them recite Kalma… He does not allow the singing of the National Anthem in the school, and if children try to do so, he scolds them.” Pradhan made the complaint after some parents had allegedly approached him about the principal’s “conduct”.Meanwhile, the suspended principal told TOI: “I’d served in the same school for 20 years. I received the (suspension) letter on Sunday through an employee. It is a false case. Local residents know the truth. We’ve 235 students in the school — 147 Hindus and 88 Muslims — and all are like my children, and their education has always been my main priority.”Jaan Mohammed, who was also involved with SIR exercise in UP, added the National Anthem is played regularly at school and it is all carried out in a systematic manner. “I’ll soon present my side of the case before the probe panel,” he added.
