Pvt school principal in Goa suspended for taking students to a mosque for workshop

On Monday, members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) lodged a police complaint at Vasco against the school principal for “supporting anti-national activities”, claiming that the said workshop had been organised on the invite of an organisation affiliated to banned Popular Front of India.

Education Director Shailesh Zingde said, “The department has sought an explanation from the school management and the response is awaited. The principal has been suspended since, it has been brought to our knowledge.”

According to officials, the incident took place on Saturday involving Class 11 students of Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School in Alto-Dabolim.

School principal Shankar Gaonkar said, “On the invitation of the Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), a visit to a mosque in Dabolim was organised to promote communal harmony. Students of a government school from Baina had also been invited. A total of 21 students from our school, including three girl students and a teacher, were taken to the mosque. Students were shown where the prayers are conducted and entry-exit areas at the mosque. Some students may have covered their heads out of respect. The claim that students were forced to wear hijab or perform rituals is false.”

“In the past also, we have organised visits of students to temples, churches and mosques. Children from all the faiths study at the school. Some students from another school had also visited the mosque. I do not know why I have been suspended,” said Gaonkar.

The school management did not respond to queries for a comment.

Asif Hussain, state president, Jammat-e-Islami Hind, parent body of Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Goa zone, which had organised the workshop, said, “A workshop had been organised for students at Masjid-E-Noor in Dabolim as part of our routine initiatives to promote communal harmony and for a better understanding between communities. Such events at the mosque have been an annual feature and often students visit of their own accord. The school students were shown the area where prayers are conducted and they were given sweets. All these claims [of religious conversion] are baseless.”

Sanju Korgaoker, Joint Secretary, VHP, South Goa, said the workshop was part of a conspiracy to “brainwash young children and an attempt to carry out religious conversions”.

“The principal did not inform parents of the students or seek their permission for the workshop. We have been informed that at least two students had refused to go, but they were taken forcibly. Some photos of school children performing rituals at the mosque and wearing hijab have been circulating on social media. We have lodged a complaint with the police,” he said.