Within hours of the ‘Slap Your Muslim Classmate’ video wherein an eight-year-old boy is being slapped by his Hindu classmates on the instruction of the teacher, going viral, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has written to the government for “swift action”. Writing to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, besides the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights (NCPCR), Jamiat’s President Mahmood Madani urged them to “initiate legal proceedings against the perpetrators” and urged them to instruct the district administration “to refrain from attempting to downplay this grave matter”.
Maulana Madani vehemently asserted that “nafrat ka pathshala” (school of hatred) is unacceptable. “It is sad to observe that our country has descended into a breeding ground for hate speech. This trend originated from the dissemination of venomous statements by certain political leaders and some media outlets. When governmental authorities and their agencies fell short in reining in this, it reached the extent that even the pillars of security institutions and educational establishments, traditionally revered as centres of knowledge, have succumbed to its influence.”
On the same lines has been the reaction of Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB). Speaking to the media, the MTB Chairman, Salim Engineer said, “The Markazi Taleemi Board demands strict action against the school and the teacher. NCPCR should initiate an inquiry and make its findings public. The rights of the child have been violated and NCPCR must act swiftly and decisively. Islamophobia is fast spreading in schools and college campuses and should be addressed by the government. The police, NCPCR, and the courts must take suo moto cognizance of such a grave violation of child rights by pursuing the case against the school and teacher. The victim deserves justice and adequate compensation.”
