Ambedkar Jayanti: Sena shuts down South Bombay school trying to make up for lost time

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena workers forced BD Somani International School, Cuffe Parade, to call off classes on Monday afternoon, because of Ambedkar Jayanti.
“While all other schools were shut on this national holiday, B D Somani school seemed to have no regard for the work done by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Instead of teaching their children the great work of this noble man, the school chose to stay open and inconvenience students as well as parents,” said Pandurang Sakpal, Shiv Sena shakha pramukh of the area.He said the Sena had received complaints from some parents about being forced to send their children to school even on a bank holiday.
Somani officials refused to comment, but a security guard told TOI that the school worked in the morning session but shut down after that. Attempts to get in touch with the school principal and the management were in vain.
Principals of schools in the vicinity said they were not happy with the behaviour of Sena workers at Somani. “International schools follow a different schedule and with elections around, our regular schedule is going for a toss. Many schools are trying to make up for time they will lose during the elections by conducting extra classes. But obviously, political parties have their own agendas,” said the principal of a south Mumbai school.
Sena members said no student or staffer was targeted; only, school authorities were spoken to. “We ensured that students or teachers weren’t inconvenienced in any way. We simply explained to the school authorities that Ambedkar Jayanti is an important day and like all other schools, they too should observe a holiday,” said Sakpal. He said the Sena had previously received complaints against the school for conducting lectures on public holidays.
Senior Sena functionary Anil Desai was unaware of the matter. “I am not aware of any such incident (a school being asked by Sena workers to close for the day), but I can assure you that no school will be ‘forced’ to shut down. Our men must have informed the school.”