Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Delhi Public School Athwajan has pre-poned the summer vacations and will shut from Monday, June 20, 2016.
Fearing student protests against its ban on Abhaya inside the school campus, the DPS management, has conveyed to parents of its students that the “school will close for summer vacations from June 20”.
“Dear parent school will close for summer vacations from Monday 20th June 2016,” read a message sent by DPS Athwajan management sent to a parent.
Notable to mention here, a lady teacher resigned from her job when DPS management led by Vijay Dhar had asked her “not to wear Abhaya – female Muslim dress – during working hours”. Instead, she resigned in protest.
This had led to boycott of classes and exams by the students who demanded apology and recall of the teacher.
The school behaviour invited wrath to DPS from government as well as resistance leadership of J&K.
“Kashmir is not France,” Government spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar had said in J&K Legislature, “no force can be accepted.”
Demanding apology, separatists termed the action by DPS as “interference in one’s religion” and had asked the school management to refrain from “imposing its will”.
France has banned Abhaya/Hijab in public. Instead, whoever wears it is fined by the law implemented by France government.
But, on Sunday evening, DPS issued a one liner statement reading, “Delhi Public School Srinagar Management apologises for unintentionally hurting the sentiments of people.”
The students on last Friday had submitted a memorandum to school management asking it to roll back the rule which prohibits wearing of Abhaya inside the campus. The students had told the school management that they want action on their demands up to Monday – June 20th 2016 – the day school shuts.
“It was sudden,” a parent said, “I have never received such a message notifying any decision like this.” The parent said that DPS would usually close on July Ist every year for summer vacations.
