Mangaluru: The AAP Dakshina Kannada unit has strongly condemned the attack by Sri Ram Sene activists on a school alleging Arabic and Urdu languages were being taught forcibly.
In a shameful event on Saturday, a group of Sri Ram Sene members barged into a government-aided Kannada medium school in Padu-Bondanthila village near Neermarga, Mangaluru Taluk. They entered into classrooms where the students were being taught Arabic as an optional, extra-curricular session.
Standing in solidarity with the children, parents and teachers of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, a delegation of AAP led by Shanthala Damle, AAP State Co-convener in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, met headmaster Melwin Braggs and retired school teacher Thomas Fernandes at the school and enquired about the welfare of the children after the attack.
Braggs said that three people have been arrested since the attack and police are on the lookout for the other attackers. While some parents were fearful, he expressed confidence that people will stand by them and have assured the parents to send the children to school. He was releived that the school was well-attended on Tuesday. Braggs added the fact that the main attackers were the locals who were former students of the school pained him greatly. In more than 100 years of the history of school, such a thing never happened, he said.
As many as 160 students have enrolled in this village school where it provides a school bus for a very nominal charge. Although run by a Christian Institution, only 5 students are Christians in this aided Kannada medium school. Only about 25 are Muslims and the rest are Hindu children.
The school has been teaching Karate as well. French and German were also taught earlier. Since many of the parents expect that their children may get job opportunities in future in Gulf countries, they feel that knowledge of some Arabic will be beneficial, and hence the school was offering Arabic lessons. While Braggs hoped that the parents don’t give into fear and continue to support extra-curricular lessons which are in the best interests of the children.
Rohan Shiri, an AAP member, expressed anguish that although majority of the Mangaloreans are peace-loving people, the 1% who are goons are bringing bad name to Mangaluru by engaging in goondaism.
Shanthala Damle urged people to not give in to fear, which feeds the anti-social elements further, and stay united. “If anyone is threatened by any communal goons, they should call AAP Dakshina Kannada helpline 8884431217 and AAP volunteers will accompany them to police station and mobilise needed support,” Damle said.
