In a disconcerting incident that has stirred outrage, a government school teacher in Delhi has been booked for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Kaaba and the Quran in her classroom. This comes just a week after a teacher in Uttar Pradesh faced legal action for encouraging students to slap a Muslim boy, sparking a nationwide conversation about the role of educators in shaping a respectful and inclusive learning environment.
The teacher in question, identified as Hema Gulati, who teaches at Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Gandhi Nagar, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 153 A, 295 A, and 298. These charges relate to promoting enmity between religious groups, insulting religious beliefs, and intentionally hurting religious sentiments.
The incident came to light following complaints by the families of Class 9 students who were allegedly subjected to derogatory language targeting their Muslim identity and religious beliefs. Delhi Police are currently investigating the allegations.
According to the Delhi Police, the teacher used offensive language that deeply offended the religious sentiments of some Muslim students. DCP Shahdara, Rohit Meena, stated, “We received a complaint about a school teacher using some religious words before students. We have taken cognizance of the matter. Our Juvenile Welfare Officer, along with counselors, is counseling the affected students. There are 2-3 such students, so we are counseling them all… It is a government school.”
Based on a statement provided by one of the affected students, Hema Gulati allegedly made communal statements during a class. The complaint alleges that she directed derogatory comments towards the Kaaba, a revered stone edifice in Mecca, as well as the Quran. The teacher was reported as saying, “During the Partition, you chose to remain in India instead of going to Pakistan. Your contribution to India’s freedom struggle is negligible.” The complaint was formally lodged on a Friday evening.
Families of the students are demanding the teacher’s immediate dismissal, emphasizing that such remarks have the potential to disrupt harmony within the school environment. A concerned parent told ANI, “If this teacher is not penalized, it might embolden others. Teachers should focus solely on teaching and refrain from commenting on subjects about which they lack knowledge. Having a teacher who fosters division among students is counterproductive. Our demand is straightforward – remove the teacher from the school; she should not be allowed to teach in any institution.”
Local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Anil Kumar Bajpai, strongly condemned the teacher’s behavior. “This is entirely unacceptable. A teacher’s foremost duty is to provide quality education to children. Derogatory remarks regarding any religion or sacred place should never come from a teacher. Individuals of this nature should face legal consequences,” he stated.
This incident follows another controversy that emerged last week when a video surfaced from a private school in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar. In the video, a teacher was seen instructing students to take turns hitting another student while making derogatory references to his Muslim faith. These incidents have sparked a nationwide discussion about the crucial role of educators in fostering respect, tolerance, and diversity within schools. They have also highlighted the need for comprehensive training and awareness programs for teachers to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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