Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh has kicked up a row on Wednesday saying Bible and Quran are religious texts while Bhagwad Gita is not. The minister’s remark comes amid the controversy over Bible being forced on students at a school in Bengaluru.
“Bible and Quran are religious books but Bhagvad Gita is not. It does not convey any religious practice. It provides only life lessons,” Nagesh said, adding that Gita cannot be compared to any religious scriptures.
“Bible says one should believe in Jesus and he will protect everyone. It also talks about those who don’t study the religious text. Gita doesn’t say this.”
The Karnataka education department issued a show cause notice to Clarence High School in Bengaluru, which has come under fire from Hindutva groups for allegedly imposing the Bible on the students. Reacting to the developments, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore Archdiocese Dr Peter Machado said the allegations were “false and misleading”.
“When we got to know about the matter, we asked our BEO and DDPI to look into it and give a notice. We are waiting for their reply. We’ll take action after taking opinion from the legal department,” Nagesh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“The decision taken by the school is wrong. It is against the rules and Act of Karnataka. Karnataka Education Act clearly states that no school can teach religious books or practice religious things,” Nagesh said.
“When there is clarity, I don’t know why the school has forced students to take the Bible with them…and conducting an exam on the Bible is something I’m not able to understand,” the Education Minister added.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), a Hindutva group on Tuesday, approached Nagesh, urging him to take action against Clarence High School.
“Making the Bible compulsory is a crime. Take strict action against the school,” the Hindutva group’s state spokesperson Mohan Gowda told Nagesh. He also urged the Education Minister to gather information about the textbooks in other Christian schools in the state.
The Karnataka government’s move comes following the directions of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which wrote a letter seeking a probe against the school for allegedly imposing Christian religious views on children.
The NCPCR had asked the officials to submit the report of the enquiry to the child rights commission within seven days.
Clarence High School in Bengaluru’s Richards Town has come under the scanner of the Hindutva outfit for reportedly seeking a declaration from the parents at the time of admission that they would not object to their wards carrying the holy book to school premises.
“You affirm that your child will attend all classes including Morning Assembly Scripture Class and Clubs for his/her own moral and spiritual welfare and will not object to carrying the Bible and Hymn Book during his/her stay at Clarence High School,” the undertaking issued by the school read.
After the video came to light, Gowda had warned of approaching the High Court and filing a PIL if the government does not take action against the school.
However, the school has defended its stance and stated that it provides a Bible-based education. The school officials said it has already described itself as a minority institute founded by the British missionaries, with a vision to foster “complete and wholesome intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical and social development of every child based on Christian Values.”
