Catholic school in MP punishes student for chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'; face protests

A Catholic school in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh allegedly punished a student for chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' after the national anthem in the school assembly.

The student, who belongs to Christ Senior Secondary School in Guna, said, "I chanted 'Bharat Mata ki jai' after national anthem. A teacher held my collar, pulled me out of the queue and told me to go to the principal. My class teacher told me to chant this at home and not in school. She made me sit on the floor for four-five periods."

A day after the incident, on Thursday, a protest was staged outside the school, with people chanting bhajans.

The principal of the school, Thomas, who is a Catholic priest, claimed the student chanted it as a joke and not as a mark of patriotism. "Students were going to house gathering after the national anthem to select a captain and vice-captain when one student chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. He chanted that as a joke, not patriotism. Disrespectful! We will hold a disciplinary committee meet to decide what to do next," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Guna ADM Virendra Singh Baghel said a few parents and forums staged protests outside the school following the allegations by the student. "DEO has taken statements. FIR will be registered on the basis of complaints that are being given," he said.