Hyderabad: Union Minister Bandi Sanjay on Thursday said the BJP would make wearing a tilak mandatory for Hindu students in Telangana if the party formed the government in the State.
He said the BJP would protect and promote Hindu culture and traditions. He made the remarks while reacting to the controversy over religious homework allegedly assigned to a Hindu student at a private school in Saidabad.
Bandi Sanjay alleged that the incident reflected an attempt to target Hindu culture. He termed the alleged instruction to learn the *Kalma* and *Surah Al-Fatiha* as unacceptable.
Further, he demanded strict action against Success Private School. He also urged people across society to condemn the incident. He questioned why secular organisations had not reacted.
According to the allegations, a teacher asked a Class II Hindu student to learn the *Kalma* and *Surah Al-Fatiha*. The teacher also wrote the assignment in the student’s school diary.
Bandi Sanjay demands action over Saidabad school controversy
Meanwhile, the school management said it had removed the teacher from service. It described the episode as an individual mistake. It also clarified that the institution does not permit religious instruction of this nature.
The management further said this was the first such incident at the school. It assured parents that similar incidents would not recur.
Following calls by BJP leaders to protest outside the school, police deployed heavy security. Authorities also restricted access to the campus to maintain law and order.
Finally, Bandi Sanjay reiterated that the BJP would safeguard Hindu traditions if it came to power in Telangana. He said the party would implement its proposal on wearing tilak in schools.