Latest news with #MunjalBadmaliya
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bhavnagar school play depicting burqa-clad ‘terrorists' triggers controversy; probe ordered
The Gujarat Education Department has sought a report after a primary school in Bhavnagar staged an Independence Day play in which burqa-clad girls were shown as 'terrorists', sparking protests from local Muslim groups. The District Education Officer issued a notice to the Bhavnagar Municipal School Board, which runs the institution, asking for an explanation within seven days, officials said on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). The move came after members of the Muslim community, under the banner of Bandharan Bachao Samiti, demanded stern action against the teachers for depicting their community 'in a bad light'. A video of the August 15 performance, widely circulated on social media, shows girls dressed in white dancing to a song praising Kashmir's beauty before three students in burqas, carrying toy guns, storm the stage and 'shoot' them. A background audio referred to terrorists killing civilians during the Pahalgam attack. Munjal Badmaliya, Administrative Officer of the Bhavnagar Municipal School Board, said the all-girls primary school in Kumbharwada had presented the play based on Operation Sindoor as part of Independence Day celebrations. 'The District Education Officer received a representation alleging that the play hurt Muslim sentiments. We have been asked to submit a factual report within seven days,' he said. The Municipal School Board has appointed a coordinator to probe the incident. A preliminary inquiry had indicated that the teachers and the Principal had no intention of offending any community, Mr. Badmaliya added. 'Students playing the role of terrorists were told to cover their faces with black cloth, but they used burqas as those were easily available,' he said. The Administrative Officer maintained that the purpose of the play was to honour the armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor, and not to target any religion. 'We are examining the issue from all angles and will submit a detailed report to the District Education Officer,' he said. (With inputs from PTI)
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Gujarat school play allegedly depicting women wearing burqas as terrorists triggers row
A play during an Independence Day programme at a school in Gujarat's Bhavnagar has triggered a row about the alleged depiction of women wearing burqas as terrorists, The Indian Express reported. 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.'
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Play ‘depicting burqa-clad women as terrorists' at I-Day event in Gujarat school kicks up a row
A play staged during the Independence Day programme at a municipal corporation school in Bhavnagar city, Gujarat, on August 15 has triggered a controversy over the alleged depiction of burqa-clad women as 'terrorists'. Bhavnagar District Education Officer (DEO) Hitendrasinh D Padheriya on Tuesday sent a notice to Bhavnagar Municipal School Board Administrative Officer (AO) Munjal Badmaliya seeking a factual report within seven days on the programme held at the school, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Pratmik Shala Number 51 in Kumbharwada area of Bhavnagar city. The notice was issued based on the representation made by a social organisation, Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar, which alleged that the play 'depicted the Muslim community as terrorists' and demanded stern action against the 'teachers behind the play'. In the notice sent to Bhavnagar Municipal School Board Administrative Officer (AO) Munjal Badmaliya, the DEO sought details of the cultural programme at the school and asked whether the depiction as stated in the representation was intentional or unintentional, along with details of the function held on the school campus. Confirming the development, Padheriya told The Indian Express, 'The representation, marked to the District Collector, Municipal Commissioner and DEO on Monday, stated that there was a deliberate depiction of muslims as terrorists during the cultural programme held at the school on August 15. To find out facts and details, I have sought an explanation from the Administrative Officer within seven days.' The all-girls school in Bhavnagar with an enrollment of more than 600 students has come under spotlight after videos of the cultural programme appeared on social media. In its representation, Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar alleged 'an attempt by the school staff to hurt religious sentiments and spread unrest in the public'. 'At Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Prathmik Shala Number 50-51 in Bhavnagar's Kumbharwada area, a play was presented by the children….. In this play, Kashmiri pilgrims as well as the Army and terrorists were depicted. In the play, girls dressed in Muslim attire (burqa) were shown as terrorists, clearly depicting the Muslim community as terrorists,' Bandharan Bachav Samiti said in the representation. The Samiti added that there is a lot of anger and protest in the Muslim community against the teachers, who, it said, showed their criminal mentality by staging such a play in the school. Speaking to The Indian Express, Jehurbhai Hussainbhai Jeja, the president of Bandharan Bachav Samiti, said, 'The Muslim community demands that all those school staff behind this act should be suspended and strict legal action should be taken so that no such unconstitutional act is committed in the future.' When contacted, the Administrative Officer, Munjal Badmaliya, said, 'The cultural programmes are held every year on January 26 and August 15. This year it was themed on Operation Sindoor and the bravery of our defence forces, and programmes were held in every school. Nothing was intentional or deliberate. We will submit our response to the notice.' There are over 30,000 students enrolled in 68 municipal schools in Bhavnagar city. This year as a part of Operation Sindoor celebration, school students sent Rakhis and letters to the soldiers from Gujarat. From Bhavnagar district alone, over 2 lakh school students have written to the soldiers from Gujarat.
