Gujarat school play allegedly depicting women wearing burqas as terrorists triggers row
Videos of the cultural programme were widely shared on social media.
On Tuesday, District Education Officer Hitendrasinh D Padheriya issued a notice to the Municipal School Board Administrative Officer Munjal Badmaliya seeking a report within a week about the programme held at the government school, the newspaper reported.
The notice was issued based on a representation made by Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar, a social organisation, which alleged that the play had portrayed the Muslim community as terrorists. The organisation demanded action against those behind the play, according to The Indian Express.
Rajendrakumar Dave, the school principal, said: 'We only wanted to depict what happened in Operation Sindoor.'
'We did not intend to hurt anyone's sentiments,' he told ANI. 'We conducted this event only to invoke patriotism. If any community is hurt, I apologise.'
The district education officer sought details of the programme and asked whether the depiction as has been alleged was intentional, and details of the event held at the school.
The Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar had alleged that the play was 'an attempt by the school staff to hurt religious sentiments and spread unrest in the public'.
'In the play, girls dressed in Muslim attire (burqa) were shown as terrorists, clearly depicting the Muslim community as terrorists,' the organisation alleged, according to The Indian Express.
It added that the Muslim community was angry with the teachers, the organisation said.
Badmaliya said that the event is held every year on Independence Day and Republic Day.
'This year it was themed on Operation Sindoor and the bravery of our defence forces, and programmes were held in every school,' the newspaper quoted him as saying. 'Nothing was intentional or deliberate.'
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