VHP Protests School Banning Student in Ayyappa Uniform

Visakhapatnam: The local units of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the BJP Dharmika Sasthan are protesting against a private high school here that disallowed a Class X student wearing Ayyappa scarf from entering the classroom on Saturday last.

Saffron activists went to the school on Saturday and engaged in heated arguments with the teachers in the absence of school principal Bhagirath Dadich. They sought an apology from the principal and the teachers who did not allow  the student in.

The principal eventually apologised to these entities and assured them that students of all faiths would be allowed into the classes in their religious attire. However, the saffron activists are seeking action against the principal for his “disregard” to Hindu dharma and want him to stop conducting prayers of another faith in the school.’’

Their leader Vijay Phanindra said he would would submit a letter to the district education officer (DEO), urging him to issue a circular to all schools to allow students wearing religious attire into classes, but ban religious meetings in schools.

Principal Bhagirath Dadich told Deccan Chronicle on Monday that he had apologized to the saffron groups for “all the omissions” and assured them that such curbs would not be imposed hereafter.

“A miscommunication led to this row. The father of the student had, on Friday evening, requested me to allow his son to attend classes under Ayyappa Deeksha. Though I initially insisted that the student wear shoes, later on I allowed him to come without that."

"I left for Tuni on Friday evening. My decision could not be communicated to the teachers and hence they stopped the student from entering the class on Saturday. The boy missed the first hour but later he was allowed to attend the classes.”

“An hour later, on Saturday, VHP activists barged into the teachers room and protested against the teachers’ action,” the principal said.

On the issue of conducting prayers, the principal said a local church was under repair and the community asked for space in the school to conduct the Sunday mass. The cellar was given free and they held the prayers for four Sundays.

“I had taken Ayyappa Deeksha 37 times in my life but always came to school in civil dress, to set an example. I don’t want to mix education with religion,’’ he said.

This could cause inconvenience to students of other faiths in a city like Visakhapatnam where people of all faiths have been living in amity for years, the principal noted.