Row on ‘remarks against Lord Ram, Modi’: Forced to sack teacher due to BJP MLA’s pressure, says Mangaluru school head

Sister Anitha said the school had to sack Sister Prabha after MLA Kamath and a group of Hindu activists protested outside the school, demanding that she be dismissed.

“I have been in this profession for 24 years and every year at least 1,000 students join our school. Our intention is to shape students for the future, immaterial of their religion,” Sister Anitha said.

The alleged incident took place on February 8 when Sister Prabha held a class on ‘Work is worship’ for Class 7 students. Subsequently, two audio messages were circulated on social media accusing her of making the remarks. The messages sparked widespread protests that led to Sister Prabha’s dismissal, a case being booked against Kamath, MLA Bharat Shetty and two Mangalore City Corporation corporators, and Deputy Director of Public Instruction of Dakshina Kannada district D R Naik being transferred.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal told The Indian Express that they were trying to trace the origin of the audio messages.

In a statement, Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops’ Council president Peter Machado expressed his disappointment over the incident. “The local leaders and the mob had no patience to wait for the completion of the government inquiry, and the nun was forcefully suspended, even after the Sister-in-charge of the school begged forgiveness and apology on behalf of the Sister in question, reported to be hospitalised. But the elected representative and the mob were screaming for the Sister to be brought to the fore, orchestrating even the children for the purpose,” the statement said.