Daijiworld Media Network- Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, Aug 14: Tension gripped Rajkiya Balika Inter School in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad on Wednesday after members of a Hindu outfit stormed the campus, protesting against a teacher’s alleged objection to students wearing a ‘tilak’ on their forehead.

According to sources, the controversy began last month when sisters Manu and Soni joined Class 11 at the school. While classes commenced on July 15, the two attended only on August 5 and 6. During a recent class, Manu was reportedly unable to answer a question posed by a teacher, who allegedly told her to “focus on studies” and remarked that “nothing will happen by applying a tilak.”

The student further alleged that the teacher regularly asked her and other ‘tilak’-wearing students to wipe it off before entering the classroom. “She even said that if we want to worship, we should go to a temple and not come to school,” Manu claimed, adding that the remarks deeply hurt their religious sentiments.

A week later, nearly 50 to 60 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), including several women, entered the school premises demanding an apology. “In our country, every religion has the freedom to wear a tilak. Girls from Pandit families wear it every day. Girls from Muslim families wear the hijab, and no one stops them. Why should tilak be an issue?” questioned VHP President Alok Garg.

School principal Vibha Chaudhary, expressing surprise over the incident, said, “I was unaware until the group entered. Police intervened and dispersed the crowd. Our school has an excellent academic record, and if we have made any mistake, we will apologise.”

Police officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control and assured that the matter will be examined to avoid further unrest.