Surendranagar school on membership row: ‘Students may have used the link on their own to learn how parents could join BJP’

The students were asked to bring mobile phones to aid linking of ration cards with Aadhaar cards, said the Surendranagar school

Following reports of the alleged membership drive, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the District Education Officer, A M Ojha, had marked inquiries into the incident. (File Photo)

After it found itself in the centre of a row following allegations of enrolling its students as BJP members, authorities at Ku M R Gardi Vidhyalaya in Surendranagar have stated that the students may have “used the link on their own” to check how their parents can join the membership drive.

In a reply submitted to the District Education Officer (DEO) on Friday, the higher secondary grant-in-aid school, though, accepted that its students were asked to bring mobile phones to the campus. However, it claimed that this was done to aid “linking of ration cards with Aadhaar cards” for scholarships.

The school is situated in Anindra village of Surendranagar’s Wadhwan taluka.

Following reports of the alleged membership drive, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the District Education Officer, A M Ojha, had marked inquiries into the incident.

According to a copy of the reply that has been submitted “based on principal’s telephonic instructions” by the in-charge principal: “No teacher of our school has forced anyone to become a member of any party. Students might have used the link to know how can their parents join the membership drive and tried on their own, in which the school has no role.”

The Indian Express reported on Thursday about students of Class IX onwards being allegedly enrolled as BJP members with their membership cards, too, purportedly generated and shared on the school’s WhatsApp group.

Surendranagar BJP district president Hitendrasinh Chauhan had said that legal action will be taken against those involved in what looks like a “conspiracy to defame the BJP”.

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The school’s reply with the subject “pertaining to BJP’s praveshotsav (enrolment) in Surendranagar’s school…” further stated that the principal, Mukeshbhai R Nimavat, was on leave.

“To link students of Class IX Aadhaar cards with their ration cards for scholarships and registration in G-shala, our teacher Raydanbhai had asked them to bring mobile phones to the school and thus guided students for this,” according to the reply.

Sources, however, maintained that the school authorities had made it mandatory for all students to bring their mobile phones over to enrol themselves as BJP members.

Based on media reports, DEO Ojha had marked an inquiry into the case under a Class 2 official and a notice was issued to the school management.

Ritu Sharma

Ritu Sharma is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express' Gujarat bureau, an editorial position that reflects her experience and Authority in regional journalism. With over a decade of concentrated reporting experience, she is a highly Trustworthy and specialized journalist, especially noted for her Expertise in the education sector across Gujarat and previously Chandigarh. Expertise Primary Authority (Education): With over ten years of dedicated reporting on education in both Gujarat and Chandigarh, Ritu Sharma is a foremost authority on educational policy, institutional governance, and ground realities from "KG to PG." Her coverage includes: Higher Education: In-depth scrutiny of top institutions like IIM-Ahmedabad (controversies over demolition/restoration of heritage architecture), IIT-Bombay (caste discrimination issues), and new initiatives like international branch campuses in GIFT City. Schooling & Policy: Detailed coverage of government schemes (Gyan Sadhana School Voucher Scheme), the implementation and impact of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, teacher recruitment issues, and the impact of national policies like the NEP. Student Welfare: Reporting on critical issues such as suicide allegations due to caste discrimination, and the challenges faced by students (e.g., non-delivery of NAMO tablets). ... Read More

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