Private school accused of forcing children to offer namaz for Bakrid

HASSAN: A private school in Channarayapatna has been accused of forcing children of other religions to offer namaz on the occasion of Bakrid, Hindu groups have alleged.

After videos of the event, organised at the Gnana Sagar International Public School went viral on social media, members of Hindu groups met the school authorities on Friday and sought an explanation. They also demanded that the authorities concerned should take action against the school management.

The activists also met the school authorities and sought an explanation.

The activists have planned to hold a massive protest against the school management on Monday to demand the education department to cancel the school’s registration.

Meanwhile, the school authorities denied that the children were asked to perform namaz and that the event was organised only to promote harmony. Only three Muslim students led the prayers while the others sat with folded hands and eyes closed. The school also symbolically conducts events related to other festivals too in order to introduce the children to the customs of all faiths, they said.