Authorities in India are currently investigating a concerning incident involving a teacher. The incident has ignited a wave of outrage across the nation, as a video emerged showing the teacher encouraging students to slap their 7-year-old classmate, who follows the Islamic faith.
This unsettling occurrence unfolded within the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, situated in the northern part of the country. The distressing video portrays a young boy standing apprehensively before his peers, while the teacher instructs the students to strike him.
As the young boy sheds tears, his classmates take turns slapping him, guided by the teacher’s unsettling encouragement. Amidst this disturbing act, the voice of a man laughing is heard as the boy’s cries continue.
Satyanarayan Prajapat, the superintendent of police in Muzaffarnagar, has shared that the teacher justified her actions by claiming the boy’s inability to recall multiplication tables. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the teacher referred to the boy’s religious background, adding a deeply concerning aspect to the incident.
Local authorities have taken prompt action by registering a case against the teacher and initiating an investigation. As of now, the teacher has not faced formal charges. Additionally, district officials have mandated the temporary closure of the school, as reported by CNN affiliate CNN News-18.
CNN has endeavored to gather more details by reaching out to Uttar Pradesh police officials.
The incident has sparked widespread anger and distress throughout India, a country known for its vast democracy comprising over 1.4 billion individuals. The current ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has implemented policies that carry a Hindu nationalist stance. These policies have deepened communal tensions within the country, generating an atmosphere of unease and estrangement among minority groups, according to government critics and human rights organizations.
Rahul Gandhi, a notable opposition politician, has decried the teacher’s actions as “sowing the poison of discrimination in the minds of innocent children.” Gandhi took to Twitter to express his sentiments, emphasizing that schools should remain sacred spaces of education, not arenas for sowing hatred. He advocates for teaching love to children, as they are the bearers of the nation’s future.
Gandhi holds the BJP responsible for fueling religious intolerance, likening their actions to igniting a fire across the corners of India. He calls for unity, emphasizing the importance of cherishing and nurturing the children of the nation.
While the BJP has not officially responded to Gandhi’s remarks, they have consistently maintained their stance of treating all citizens equally without discrimination. During a visit to the United States in June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that there is “absolutely no space” for discrimination within India.
It’s noteworthy that while Indian law lacks a statutory definition of corporal punishment for children, both physical punishment and mental harassment are prohibited under the country’s Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
According to reports from CNN News-18, the teacher herself has shared her perspective, claiming that the child’s father requested her to discipline him. She added that due to her own physical disability, she enlisted the help of other students to assist in this disciplinary action.
This incident occurs within a backdrop of heightened communal tensions, as the BJP’s popular yet divisive policies gain momentum in India. Economist Deepankar Basu’s study highlights a significant surge of 786% in hate crimes against all minority groups between 2014 and 2018, following the BJP’s electoral triumph.
Uttar Pradesh, where this incident transpired, stands as India’s most populous state, housing approximately 200 million individuals. The state boasts a religiously diverse population, with about 20% identifying as Muslim. Yet, amidst this diversity, Uttar Pradesh continues to grapple with polarization, marked by its chief minister’s notable anti-Muslim rhetoric and Hindu-centric policies. Critics argue that the state’s legislative decisions are rooted in “Hindutva,” the ideological foundation of Hindu nationalism.
