Protests against students wearing hijab in school play, principal forced to apologize for promoting religious harmony

GURGAON: Controversy erupted in Sonipat's Badauli village earlier this week when members of a right-wing outfit protested against a school programme where some students wore hijabs.

At Govt Senior Secondary School on Wednesday, a group of students organised a play to promote amity and religious harmony. Students represented members of different communities and wore dresses associated with them. Some girls wore hijabs.

The day ended peacefully. But trouble erupted on Thursday when pictures of the play were circulated on social media.

Manish Rai, who identifies himself as the president of Akhand Hindu Swabhiman Sangathan, led a group of villagers to the school premises and raised slogans against the principal and teachers.

The protesters accused them of leading Hindu students against their religion by making them wear hijabs. A police team had to be deployed to prevent any untoward situation.

"Yes, we panicked when villagers and members of the outfit entered the compound and created a ruckus. We called police and a team reached the school to pacify the villagers. The protesters demanded that the principal and teachers of the school be transferred elsewhere for hurting their religious sentiment," a school staffer said.

Principal Praveen Gulia tried to reason with members of the outfit, saying the school had merely organised a multi-faith programme and the students were dressed in hijabs to promote amity in keeping with directions of the education department.

But the protest and heckling did not stop. It was only after Gulia apologised and promised never to hold such programmes on the school campus that the protesters left.

District education officer (Sonipat) Jitendra Kumar said the play was not intended at hurting anyone's religious sentiments and assured such events would not be organised in the future. "We are preparing a report on the incident and will send it to the govt soon," he added.

Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and gift idea !