School students asked to carry Bible in bags at Bengaluru school. (Representational pic)
Highlights
- The school has taken an undertaking from parents that they wouldn’t object to kids carrying Bible
- Several right-wing groups have protested against the school's directive
- They have called it a violation of the Karnataka Education Act & sought the govt's intervention
After Hijab ban in schools and colleges, Bible in a school has now triggered a row in Karnataka. A school in Bengaluru has made it compulsory for the students to carry Bible to the premises. According to media reports, the school has taken an undertaking from the parents that the students wouldn’t object to carrying Bible or hymn book to the school. Bible is a collection of scriptures sacred in Christianity.
A portion of the undertaking which was sent by the school to parents asks them to affirm that their kids will attend morning assembly, scripture class and clubs for their own moral and spiritual welfare. It then says that they (parents) will not object to carrying the Bible and Hymn book to the school.
The school's directive has triggered a row in Karnataka that made headlines recently over the banning of wearing Hijab by Muslim girls in schools and colleges. The Karnataka High Court in its ruling held that the wearing of Hijab cannot be allowed in educational institutions and that it is not an "essential religious practice" in Islam.
Meanwhile, several right-wing groups have protested against the school's directive and called it a violation of the Karnataka Education Act. They have sought the state government's intervention.
READ MORE: Hijab controversy: Two Udupi student-petitioners not allowed to take exams wearing burqa
