Damoh: Tensions escalated in Damoh district as a private school's uniform ignited a heated debate over its alleged resemblance to the hijab, prompting the Madhya Pradesh government to launch a thorough investigation. The Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School found itself at the centre of the controversy, with concerned citizens, including Hindu outfits, expressing their outrage.
The uproar began when a poster depicting girls, including Hindu students, wearing headscarves resembling the hijab circulated widely. This sparked allegations that the school was imposing religious garments on Hindu girl students, leading to demands for the cancellation of the school's registration. Hindu outfits organized a protest at the district collector's office to voice their discontent.
Initially, the matter was looked into by the district education officer, who reported no official complaints on the subject. However, given the gravity of the situation, the state home minister, Narottam Mishra, addressed the media in Bhopal and announced the launch of a comprehensive investigation. Mishra instructed the superintendent of police to thoroughly probe the allegations surrounding the uniform controversy.
The Damoh Collector, Mayank Agrawal, stated that a previous investigation had found the claims of religious conversion to be false. However, following the home minister's directives, a dedicated team is being formed to conduct a fresh inquiry into the matter.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also took note of the incident, with its chairman, Priyank Kanoongo, addressing the issue on social media. Kanoongo tweeted that the commission had acknowledged the situation and was sending instructions to the Damoh collector and superintendent of police to take necessary action.