Do not dare to sing the National Anthem - Missionaries do not like it

ABVP activists ransack missionary school over national anthem

TOI, 2nd Feb 2009


BHOPAL: Protesting against the alleged insult to the National Anthem in a missionary school in the Govindpura area of the city, Ahkhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers today created ruckus in the school by indulging in violence, police said.

The ABVP workers staged a demonstration before the school for allegedly insulting the National Anthem during the Republic Day function on January 26.

As the ABVP activists indulged in ransacking the school property, police cane-charged them to disperse from the spot and arrested nearly 15 of its workers, Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) Jaideep Prasad said.

Police also arrested the school Principal, Thomas Malancheruvilla on the issue of allegedly disrespecting the National Anthem, the SP said.

Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad's joint publicity chief, Devendra Singh Rawat alleged at a press conference that on the Republic Day after the National Flag hoisting at the Saint Thomas Convent School, the school's Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Arvind Prakash Gupta started singing the National Anthem as was the custom.

However, the school principal allegedly prevented him from doing so and insisted that he should sing the school prayer.

But Gupta did not stop in between and sang the National Song completely following which the principal announced his suspension from job from the dais itself, Rawat said in the presence of Gupta.

A complaint has been registered against the school in the Govindpura Police Station in this regard, he added.