Chhattisgarh: Headmaster arrested for asking students to reject Hindu gods
What's the story
A government school headmaster in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur has been suspended and arrested after allegedly asking students to reject Hindu deities and embrace Buddhism, The Times of India reported. A purported video of Ratanpur Government Primary School's Headmaster Ratanlal Sarovar shows him urging students to abandon faith in God and deities. It has since gone viral. The police are trying to ascertain when the incident took place. Preliminary investigation suggests it might have taken place around Ayodhya's Ram Mandir consecration day.
Details
Booked for spreading communal disharmony
In the video, Sarovar is heard saying, "I will not have faith in Brahma, Vishnu as gods and will not worship them either... I will not have belief in any god...of Hindu religion." "One should adopt Buddhism," he added. Subsequently, the Education Department suspended the 60-year-old headmaster. Later, the Bilaspur Police arrested him on Sunday following a complaint from a Hindu right-wing organization. He was booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 153A and 295A for spreading communal disharmony and blasphemy.
Investigation
Case against headmaster for hurting followers of Sanatana Dharma
The complaint against Sarovar was filed by Rupesh Shukla, an office-bearer of a Hindu right-wing organization in the region. The complaint claimed the headmaster's act hurt the sentiments of the followers of Sanatana Dharma. The police are verifying the incident's date, which may have occurred around the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla's idol in Ayodhya. Notably, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony—headlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—was celebrated among Hindus across India and the rest of the world.