Turban row: parents plan to withdraw wards from school

The Akal Akademy is a part of over 40 such akademies run by the Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib. Last week, the school management announced that wearing of turbans would be compulsory for all students studying in Class VI and above.

The Hindu community objected, pointing out that their wards already wore a patka (a small cloth tied around the head) to school, and had been doing so for over a decade.

Last week, Hindu organisations held a dharna on the issue, with Akal Akademi Principal Swarnjit Kaur accusing them of trying to create a ruckus in her office.

While the school management has been maintaining that wearing the turban is a sign of equality and a part of the dress code, parents of the Hindu students have decided that their children will go to school on Thursday and they would then ask the principal to delete their names from the school roster. “The school has a total strength of about 1,200 students, of which 20 per cent are Hindus,” says Ashok Jindal, one of the parents.

Rajinder Kumar, president of the Durga Shakti Mandir Committee, also said that they have decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the issue.