Hindu Janajagruti Samiti complains to the State Education Minister regarding Bible being taught to Hindu students in St. Andrews Marathi Church’s school !

Demand to teach Hindu students Shrimadbhagavad Gita

Mumbai : Students at a school run by St. Andrews Marathi Church in Byculla, Mumbai, are being taught the Bible under the aegis of the ‘May 2022 Summer Camp’. It is clearly stated on the board placed in the school premises that this camp is for children of all religions. The majority of the students who attend this school are Hindus. Teaching the Bible violates their religious freedom and is a violation of the Constitution. Article 25 holds the religious freedom of every citizen sacred. A complaint was lodged with the State Minister of Education on 13th May by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). The HJS has demanded that the school management should be made aware of this, and that this practice of violating religious freedom should be stopped immediately and the Bhagavad Gita should be taught to the Hindu students in the school.

मुंबईत ख्रिस्ती कॉन्व्हेंट की धर्मांतर केंद्र !!@SiddhantMohite1@KaduAmol @noconversionhttps://t.co/EpL1fcgb31

— 🚩 Ramesh Shinde 🇮🇳 (@Ramesh_hjs) May 13, 2022

The complaint lodged by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti states that,

1. The Bible is being taught in a school run by St. Andrew’s Marathi Church under the aegis of ‘Vacation Bible School’. We have no objection to teaching the Bible to Christian students; However, the majority of the students in this school are Hindus. So why force the Bible on Hindu students?

2. Although the school run by St. Andrew’s Marathi Church is private and run by the church, the majority of the students who come to this school are Hindus. Tuition fees are charged from all these students. However, religious classes are based solely on the Bible.

3. The practice of teaching the Bible to students of all faiths is objectionable. We have also received complaints from parents of some Hindu students.

… else the school will have to face protest marches !

This is associated with the religious beliefs of Hindus. Therefore, the education department should take prompt action in this regard and apprise us. The parents and all Hindu organizations are resolute in this regard. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has warned that if appropriate action is not initiated, the parents and all Hindu organizations will stage a protest march to the school.

Demands by parents and all Hindu activists!

1. The school claims that the Vacation Bible School is for students of all religions. This should be restricted to the Christian students.

2. If the school needs help to teach Bhagavad Gita to the majority of Hindu students in the school, we are ready to help.