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NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Atmosphere Of Fear": Chandra Shekhar Aazad To NDTV On Kanwar Yatra "Violence"
New Delhi: Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president Chandra Shekhar Aazad has defended the schoolteacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly who is facing a police case for a song that purportedly referred to the Kanwar Yatra, an annual procession undertaken by devotees of Lord Shiva. Rajneesh Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College, was seen in the viral video singing the song to students who had gathered in the school premises. "Kanwar leke mat jana, tum gyan ka deep jalana, manavta ke seva karke tum sachche manav ban jaana," he said in Hindi, which roughly translates to: "Don't bring Kanwars, go light the lamp of knowledge. Become a true human by serving humanity." A case was filed against him on Monday after a local corporator and some BJP leaders approached the police and demanded action. Speaking to NDTV, Mr Aazad, a member of the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh's Nagina, said the teacher just talked about "serving humanity". "We believe in the Constitution of India. In Article 51A, which is a fundamental duty, it is stated that every citizen must develop scientific thinking and get rid of superstition and hypocrisy. I heard the teacher. He had appealed to children to become humanists. But the government has filed a case against him for talking about humanity," Mr Aazad, who is also a lawyer, said. He said the teacher had said that you can't become a doctor, engineer or lawyer by participating in the Kanwar Yatra. "What did he say wrong?" Mr Aazad said. Mr Gangwar expressed regret if his words inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments. In a clarification video and a letter sent to the school principal, he said that he "noticed a continuous decline in student attendance at MGM Inter College." "Upon questioning, he learned that many young students were absent due to their participation in the Kanwar Yatra," he wrote. He said it was in this context that he recited the poem to students during the morning assembly on July 12. His primary objective, he clarified, was "to make young students aware of the dangers of going into crowded areas on roads, staying away from intoxication, and maintaining regular attendance in class." Chandra Shekhar Aazad On Kanwar Yatra "Violence" Chandra Shekhar Aazad also questioned why there was no action against some people who were resorting to "violence" during the Kanwar Yatra, referring to recent incidents of Kanwariyas allegedly damaging cars after they brushed past them. Some of them have "created an atmosphere of terror" among women and children, he said. "People's businesses have been ruined. Their shops have been shut down. One religion in particular is also being targeted," he said, and asked if this is a "secular nation". "They have sticks in their hands and are breaking people's glasses and bones. There is an atmosphere of fear in families. I have talked to many people who are not ready to go from one district to another because they feel that if by mistake something happens, then they will be treated like animals or can be lynched," Mr Aazad said.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- NDTV
No Intention To Offend Anyone: UP Teacher After Case Over Kanwar Yatra Song
Bareilly (UP): A teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district has issued a video statement expressing regret after a police case against him over a song referencing the ongoing Kanwar yatra. Rajneesh Gangwar, who teaches at MGM Inter College, claimed that he is neither anti-religion nor anti-government, but rather a supporter of both, and expressed regret if his words inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments. District Inspector of Schools Ajit Kumar Singh said an inquiry into the video has been conducted and a clarification was obtained from the teacher. "The teacher's intention was not malicious, and it appears that the video has been deliberately circulated to stir controversy," he said. Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh said investigation into the matter is ongoing. The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media that purportedly showed Gangwar singing a song to students with lyrics that roughly translate to: "Don't bring Kanwars, go light the lamp of knowledge, serve humanity and become a true human." Following the video's circulation, local BJP leaders and members of the Mahakal Seva Samiti lodged a complaint with the police. Subsequently, on Monday night, Baheri police registered a case against Gangwar under Section 353(2) of the BNS, pertaining to making statements containing false information, rumour, or alarming news. In his clarification video and a letter sent to the school principal on July 15, Gangwar explained that he "noticed a continuous decline in student attendance at MGM Inter College. Upon questioning, he learned that many young students were absent due to their participation in the Kanwar Yatra." He stated that it was in this context that he recited the poem to students during the morning assembly on July 12. His primary objective, he clarified, was "to make young students aware of the dangers of going into crowded areas on roads, staying away from intoxication, and maintaining regular attendance in class." He asserted that he had "no intention of offending anyone's religious sentiments". Gangwar also highlighted his literary background, noting that he holds a PhD in Hindi literature from Allahabad University, and his poems and articles are regularly published in All India Radio, Doordarshan, and reputable newspapers. He alleged that "some individuals, driven by envy, are attempting to tarnish his image by levelling false accusations." He emphasised that his "sole purpose is to educate and enlighten students about life's objectives". Furthermore, he mentioned his roles as the "city president of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Baheri unit, and the brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) under the government of India for the past four years".
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Oppn. comes out in support of U.P. teacher booked by police over verse on Kanwar Yatra
Opposition leaders in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday came out in support of a teacher from Bareilly, who was booked under Section 353 (2) (making statements containing false information, rumour or alarming news) of the BNS for his poem, parts of which referred to the Kanwar Yatra. The FIR against Rajneesh Gangwar, a teacher at Bareilly's MGM Inter College, was registered on July 13, based on a complaint by an outfit named Kanwar Seva Samiti. The video of Mr. Gangwar reciting the poem, which recently went viral on social media, contains a portion where he says, 'Kanwar leke mat jana, tum gyan ka deep jalana, manavta ke seva karke tum sachche manav ban jaana [Don't get pots of holy water from the Ganga, light the lamp of knowledge, become a true human by serving humanity].' Sharing the video of Mr. Gangwar reciting the poem, former U.P. Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X in Hindi, 'The greatest religion is that which leads us on the path of humanity.' Attacking the ruling BJP, Congress leader Anil Yadav said that while the Constitution promotes scientific thinking, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry among citizens, which Mr. Gangwar was trying to promote through his verse, elements in the State government aim to encourage 'superstition and irrationality and suppress voices'. Meanwhile, in a purported video on Tuesday, Mr. Gangwar said his poem was meant to educate students, and his intention was not to express negative sentiments about the yatra. 'If you listen to the whole poem, it was recited to educate children and tell them about incidents happening related to kanwariyas.'
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Teacher booked for telling students to ‘light lampof knowledge instead of going on kanwar yatra'
Bareilly: A govt school teacher in UP's Bareilly was slapped with a case on Tuesday for "promoting enmity" after he was seen in a video purportedly reciting an "objectionable poem referring to kanwar yatra" in front of students during their assembly prayer. In the clip, he could be heard saying, "Light the lamp of knowledge instead of going on kanwar yatra". Police said an FIR was registered against teacher Rajneesh Gangwar under BNS section 353-2 (public mischief with intent to promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between different groups) following a complaint by a local right-wing activist Shakti Gupta. In the police complaint, Gupta accused Gangwar of "hurting religious sentiments by reciting an objectionable verse from a poem to students at Bareilly's MGM Inter College". Baheri circle officer Arun Kumar said, "The teacher has not been arrested yet as the section imposed against him has a punishment of three years in jail. Police, as per the norms, can't arrest anyone accused of an offence that provides for seven or fewer years of imprisonment. Investigation is on and further action will be taken accordingly." In the 26-second clip, part of a five-minute video, the teacher -- after making a purported remark on the yatra -- could be heard urging the students to "serve humanity and become true humans..." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Pelajari Undo The video was widely circulated online, with many calling it "disrespectful towards a religious tradition". "During a school activity, I read a poem to students. There was nothing wrong with it. For some time now, there has been a conspiracy against me within the school. About a year-and-a-half ago, there was an attempt to file an FIR against me, accusing me of assaulting students. When nothing was found then, a 26-second clip was improperly edited now to create a false narrative against me," the accused teacher told TOI on Tuesday. Meanwhile, school principal Ashok Kumar Gangwar said the teacher read the poem on Saturday, and a "clarification has been sought from him". The ongoing kanwar yatra is scheduled to conclude on July 23.
NDTV
15-07-2025
- NDTV
UP School Teacher's Song Referring To Kanwar Yatra Lands Him In Trouble
Lucknow: A schoolteacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district has landed in trouble over a song that purportedly referred to the Kanwar Yatra, an annual procession undertaken by Shiva devotees. Rajneesh Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the Baheri police station area, was seen in the viral video singing the song to students who had gathered in the school premises. The song included the lyrics: " Kanwar leke mat jana, tum gyan ka deep jalana, manavta ke seva karke tum sachche manav ban jaana," which roughly translates to: "Don't bring Kanwars, go light the lamp of knowledge. Become a true human by serving humanity." A case was filed against the teacher last night after a local corporator and some BJP leaders approached the police and demanded action. "In the Baheri police station area, MGM Inter College teacher Rajneesh Gangwar had made some objectionable comments about Kanwar Yatra through poetry before the students. We have filed a case and are investigating the matter," said Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh. Ajit Kumar Singh, the district inspector of schools, said the video appears to be old and that it was circulated again to stir the sentiments of people during the Kanwar Yatra. An inquiry was conducted into the video, and the teacher had also provided a clarification, he was quoted as saying in reports. Kanwar Yatra is a mega annual pilgrimage for Shiva Devotees held every year during the month of Sawan. This year, the yatra is being held from July 11 to 23.
