Islamic Body Wants Bhajan, Surya Namaskar Banned In Schools

Srinagar: Islamic body Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) has urged the government to stop practices like singing of bhajans and Surya namaskars in schools in Kashmir as it hurts religious sentiments of Muslims.

MMU, comprising of 30 Islamic religious and educational organizations in Kashmir, alleged that Muslim students were being forced to chant bhajans and perform Surya namaskar, in an attempt to undermine the Muslim identity in Kashmir.

“The MMU today held a meeting at Jama Masjid, Srinagar, in the wake of unfortunate attempts to undermine the Muslim identity of Kashmir by asking Muslim students in schools and educational institutions to sing Hindu religious songs and do Surya Namaskar. These diktats hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and create anguish in them,” it said in a statement.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti had, six days ago, shared a video showing students in a classroom in Kulgam, near Srinagar, singing a bhajan, purportedly urged by teachers.

Mufti said these directives were exposing the ‘real Hindutva agenda’ of the Central government.

MMU passed a resolution expressing concern over attempts being made to “weaken the Muslim identity” in the Kashmir valley.

It urged the government and Education department to withdraw these practices, and directed parents to withdraw children from schools if they were being “forced” to participate in “un-Islamic activities”.