Bible row in Bengaluru school: NCPCR seeks report, minister says notice issued

“What the school has done is against the Karnataka Education Act. No institution has the right to add religious books to the syllabus and the school has made a mistake. The local Deputy Director of Public Instruction has issued a notice and a call will be taken accordingly,” Nagesh told reporters.

Incidentally, the Karnataka government is planning to introduce Bhagavad Gita in schools and the text book committee has proposed its introduction.

The controversy comes close on the heels of the row around denying entry to students in hijab to colleges.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti state spokesperson Mohan Gowda has accused the Clarence High School management of making parents give an undertaking during admissions that they would not object to students carrying the Bible to school.

One of the points in the admission application says, “You affirm that your child will attend classes, including morning assembly, scripture classes and clubs for his/her own moral and spiritual welfare and will not object to carrying the Bible and hymn books during his/her stay at Clarence High School.”

A screenshot of this has been doing the rounds on Twitter, with many tagging Nagesh as well as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Speaking to reporters, school principal Jerry George Mathew said, “There are some people who are upset about one of the policies of the school. We are a peace-loving and law-abiding school and we have consulted our legal team on this matter, and will follow their advice.”

Archdiocese of Bangalore Peter Machado said the allegation of forcing children to buy Bible and bring it to school is false. The management of the school has clarified that such a practice was there in the past and since last year no child is required to bring Bible to the school or asked to read it by force, he said. It is within the rights of the management to conduct Bible or religion class for Christians outside school hours, he added.

Questioning the government’s stand on plans to introduce Bhagavad Gita, Machado said, “If children are asked to buy Bhagavad Gita or books of other religions, can it be considered forcing them to be influenced or inducing them to be converted to these particular religions?” He said it cannot be interpreted as forceful conversion.