School in UP bans National Anthem, terms it 'un-Islamic'

The management of a private school in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad town, about 200 km from here, has termed the National Anthem as “un-Islamic” and banned its playing on Independence Day.

Taking the matter seriously the administration ordered closure of the school and also lodged an FIR against the management.

According to reports, the management of the junior high school claimed that the ban was imposed after objection from Muslim parents.

The manager of M A Convent school Zia-ul-Haq said that some lines in the National Anthem are “un-Islamic” and therefore cannot not be sung by Muslim students.

No Anthem in past 12 yrs

“The line...Bharat Bhagya Vidhata....is un-Islamic...for  Muslims only the Allah (Almighty) is their Bhagya Vidhata and no one else....Bharat is our country,” Haq said.

He said that the National Anthem has not been played in the school for the past 12 years. Haq also said that children are not permitted to chant “Vande Mataram” as it might hurt the sentiments of Muslim parents. As many as eight teachers and the principal of the school have resigned in protest against the ban.

 The manager, however, claimed that the teachers, who had left, had some other issues with the management.

“It is shocking...when we protested were told that we could leave,” said Rachana Devi, the principal of the school. Incidentally, the school has  both Hindu and Muslim students on its rolls.

District education department officials said that the school was not recognised by the government and that a notice had also been served to its management in this regard. 

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe into the matter. “Banning the National Anthem is a serious matter...we will probe into the matter and take action against the management,” said a senior district official in Allahabad. 

BJP demands probe into ban

The BJP on Sunday demanded a probe into reports about the ban on singing of the National Anthem in a private school in Uttar Pradesh, DHNS reports from New Delhi. In an effort to corner the Samajwadi Party (SP) government, the saffron party claimed no action was taken against the school management as it enjoyed the support of a “senior minister” of the Akhilesh Yadav government.