Controversy: I’m Christian, Can’t Hoist Or Salute National Flag, Says Headmistress

Chennai: A government school in Tamil Nadu is in the news for the wrong reasons.

The headmistress of this school in Dharmapuri district refused to hoist the national flag and salute it during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

The August 15 celebration was arranged to felicitate Tamilselvi, the headmistress, who is due to retire this year.

Breaking protocol, the Tricolour was hoisted by the assistant headmistress. The explanation given was that the religious belief of the headmistress – who has been associated with the school for over four years — did not allow her to do so.

Explaining he stand in a recorded video, Tamilselvi said she was a Yakoba Christian but meant no harm or disrespect to the flag.

“We only salute God and no one else. We respect the flag but we will only salute God. So, we asked the assistant headmistress to hoist the flag,” she said.

A formal complaint was registered with the chief education officer (CEO) of Dharmapuri, in which it was noted that the top-most staff of a government-run school refused to hoist the National flag on Independence Day. It was also mentioned that the headmistress used to take sick leave during the preceding I-Day celebrations.

Tamilselvi has been accused of showcasing and practising bias towards one religion, that too, in a government institution.