A video allegedly shot in Kulgam’s Nagam area in the Damhal Hanjipora showing schoolchildren reciting a Hindu hymn, popularized by Mahatma Gandhi, has gone viral on Social networking sites.
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The former chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti taking a strong note of the video wrote, “Jailing religious scholars, shutting down Jama Masjid & directing school kids here to sing Hindu hymns exposes the real hindutva agenda of GOI in Kashmir. Refusing these rabid dictates invites PSA & UAPA. It is the cost that we are paying for this so-called “Badalta J&K”
Jailing religious scholars, shutting down Jama Masjid & directing school kids here to sing Hindu hymns exposes the real hindutva agenda of GOI in Kashmir. Refusing these rabid dictates invites PSA & UAPA. It is the cost that we are paying for this so called “Badalta J&K”. pic.twitter.com/NssOcDP4t6
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 19, 2022
The video shared by several social media users shows several Government school children including Hijab clad female students repeating a Hindu hymn (Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram) after a reciter on the mic.
Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram” (also called Ram Dhun) is a bhajan (devotional song) that was widely popularized by Mahatma Gandhi and set to tune by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in Raga – Mishra Gara.
Imran Nabi Dar, Spokesperson of the Jammu Kashmir National Conference criticizing the video said “Somewhere in South Kashmir, these children are being MADE to sing Hindu devotional songs. Have our education institutions been turned into a political tool? The video is self explanatory.”
Somewhere in South Kashmir, these children are being MADE to sing Hindu devotional songs. Have our education institutions been turned into a political tool? The video is self explanatory. pic.twitter.com/E7jRfMYow7
— Imran Nabi Dar (@ImranNDar) September 19, 2022
Pertinently Gandhi Jayanti 2022 celebrations began in schools across Jammu Kashmir on September 5, 2022, as per the schedule released by the J&K admin, It even mentions that in all schools there will be a formation of Gandhi Club where all members will maintain a cleanliness index of school premises.
“The School Education Department JKUT is celebrating 153 Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in JKUT with full esteem by involving students and teachers for month long following calendar of activities w.e.f 5th September, 2022 to 2nd October, 2022,” the official notice issued by Jammu Kashmir admin wrote.