A recent incident in Belagavi has ignited a political debate after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reported that a private school teacher disciplined a student for taking part in a recent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march. The teacher involved has since issued a public apology.
According to Sonali Sarnobat, state unit secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha, the teacher reportedly showed photographs of the boy participating in the march during class. She then made critical remarks about his involvement and instructed him to leave the classroom, creating a distressing situation for the student.
Ms. Sarnobat vehemently stated, “This act was nothing short of punishing an innocent boy simply for exercising his right to participate in a public procession.”
The distressed student subsequently informed his parents about the incident, bringing the matter to light.
Dr. Sarnobat issued a stern warning, indicating that the BJP would organize protests if the teacher failed to apologize. She highlighted that the route march took place on a Sunday, emphasizing that the student’s participation was a personal choice. “The teacher unnecessarily politicized the situation and publicly humiliated the student, which is absolutely unacceptable,” she asserted.
In response to the growing controversy, the teacher, identified as Ms. Kaveri, has publicly apologized. She clarified that her actions were not intended to offend any individual or organization.