Bajpe: Peace was restored in the agitated city of Bajpe, after the St Joseph College authorities, in a bid to clear the air, addressed a good will meeting here on Monday evening. The meeting was organized by the alumni, parents and old students of the college.
Speaking on the series of allegations made against the college and their religious tolerance, St Joseph PU college correspondent Brother Len Noronha said that dissemination of wrong information and half baked knowledge on the matter is what led to this situation, but the truth has finally triumphed. “We hope that such a situation does not take place in the future. In our institution we respect all religions and take pride in never having discriminated among students on the basis of religion”, he added.
At the meeting, after having explained the proceedings of the incident, Brother Hector Pinto went on to thank his well wishers who stood by him and never lost their faith in him. He concluded by expressing his happiness over the matter having been resolved.
In a joint statement released by parties in question, the following statement was made;
“Mistakes happen in every human relationship, because we are human. This is true also of the cordial relationship that has always existed in St Josephs College Bajpe, among different groups. At meetings involving the community leaders, guardians and family members and the managing committee of the college, the recent problems have been solved amicably. All parties agreed that there would be no more unilateral statements in public media, and all appeal to the people involved to make a fresh commitment to maintaining peace and harmony.”
Speaking to News Karnataka, Brother Hector said, “It was a pure misunderstanding and hence we (both the parties) have decided not to blame each other. Even the boy has resumed his classes since yesterday”, he said and added that St Josephs College welcomes all and that there is no discrimination of any kind.
Background of the incident:
The incident had begun with the allegation that St Joseph Junior College Principal Brother Hector Pinto assaulted Siddique, a student of second PU for having gone to the mosque to offer namaz. The alleged assault apparently led to the student being admitted to the hospital with head and hand injuries. Br Hector was also accused of telling the boy not to go to the mosque for afternoon prayers and of using derogatory words against him to harass him.
Following the incident, Br Hector denied the allegation that the student was told not to pray in the mosque. He also made known the fact that the college time table was altered in order to suit the prayer timings. He also denied allegations that he harassed the boy. He informed the media that he the boy was also involved in some mischief or the other and hence when he came late to class after repeatedly being warned not to do so, he smacked him on his back and that there was no serious injury.
CFI in a press release stated that after the protest, the principal called CFI members and other local leaders to his chamber and apologized for the incident and even offered to resign. He also said that he would bear the hospital expenses of the student and tender a public apology, said CFI, after which the protest was withdrawn.
