Srinagar: Following an uproar after a prominent school in Srinagar sacked a teacher for wearing Abaya, the school management has now tendered an apology for “unintentionally” hurting the sentiments of people on Sunday.
“Delhi Public School Srinagar Management apologises for unintentionally hurting the sentiments of people,” the school said in a one-line statement issued yesterday. The school, however, did not clarify if others would be allowed to wear the traditional garment worn by Muslim women.
The incident created a major political storm in the Muslim-majority state. The school had come under fire for not allowing a woman teacher to wear Abaya to class and the Principal of the school Kusum Warikoo allegedly asked her to choose between her job and the dress.
According to The Indian Express report, soon after the incident, the teacher resigned while students boycotted classes and sought an apology from the school management. They also demanded that the teacher, who taught biology, be recalled.
“I was not given any contract or explained any conditions when I joined,” said the 29-year-old teacher, the report quoted the teacher as saying.
The issue was later raised in the state assembly by MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rasheed who called such a ban “in a Muslim state” condemnable, according to reports.
Responding to this issue, Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Naeem Akhtar reportedly said that Jammu and Kashmir is a multi-cultural and multi-religious state and here people have all the freedom to follow their culture, religion and can dress as per their own choice.
He further assured the House that the government would go look into the issue and take up the matter with the school management.
Meanwhile, the school has said that students who had boycotted the classes since Friday have not started to return.
