Mathura govt primary school head suspended over ‘namaz’ allegation by BJP leader

A headmaster of a government primary school in Mathura has been suspended following a complaint by a BJP leader alleging that he encouraged students to offer namaz and failed to ensure the singing of the national anthem at the school, as per reports.

The headmaster, Jaan Mohammad, 52, had been posted at the government primary school since 2007. Mohammad reportedly said that no such complaints had been against him during his tenure. 

According to reports, he was informed of his suspension on January 31. He alleged that the action was taken without any prior verification or probe.

Ratan Kirti, the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of Mathura, reportedly stated that a two-member committee had been constituted to probe the matter. She alleged that Mohammad was suspended on January 31 after a complaint was submitted by BJP leader Durgesh Kumar, also known as Pradhan.

Durgesh, a former village pradhan and the BJP’s Bajna Mandal Adhyaksh in Mathura, alleged he filed the complaint with the BSA on January 30, after receiving repeated grievances from local residents. According to him, residents alleged that the headmaster was misleading students by encouraging them to offer namaz, failing to ensure that the national anthem was sung each morning, and showing disrespect towards deities, as per reports

He further alleged that the headmaster was influencing children along religious lines, claiming that religious preachers frequently visited the school and interacted with students and their families.

The government primary school is located in Naujheel town, which has a mixed population, and is situated near a local police station and an intermediate college. The school has eight staff members and 235 students.

Mohammad has also denied ever meeting or interacting with Durgesh. BJP’s Mathura district president, Nirbhay Pandey, confirmed that Durgesh holds the post of Bajna Mandal Adhyaksh in the party.