Shimla (
Himachal Pradesh
), [India], March 24 (ANI): Recently,
circular
issued by a private
school
in the state capital, Shimla, has sparked controversy, with allegations that it was intended to create communal discord. However,
Education Minister
Rohit Thakur
has refuted these claims, emphasizing that the issue is being unnecessarily escalated to disturb social harmony.
Speaking to ANI, Minister Thakur said, “This issue is being exaggerated only to provoke communal sentiments. The matter will be investigated. However, the message from the
school
administration was issued solely with the intent of maintaining communal harmony.”
He further stressed the need to verify the facts before jumping to conclusions, noting that the
school
The issue at hand enjoys a well-established reputation. “Just today, I learned about this from media reports. We will verify the specifics, as the
school
being named is a well-established, reputed convent institution here.
Himachal Pradesh
“Communal harmony and goodwill are paramount here, and we will work tirelessly to maintain this atmosphere,” Thakur asserted.
Thakur highlighted the impact of social media in exacerbating these problems and warned about individuals who intentionally foster division within society.
“Some people in our community try to instigate divisions without cause. Such issues need to be resolved promptly. I have collected details regarding the whole situation since, in this age of social media, these problems can quickly spiral out of control. We support enhancing solidarity among communities. It’s crucial that our societal structure remains cohesive and inclusive of all faiths. This is what we aim to preserve,” he stated.
In reaction to the accusations, the
school
at the heart of the dispute,
Auckland House School
has issued a strong statement refuting the claims and calling for responsible digital conduct. The
school
highlighted its enduring custom of commemorating cultural and religious festivities, noting the
circular
It was meant for the junior class to celebrate.
Eid
On March 2nd, please ensure you wear a small cap and Kurta Pajama as per the dress code for the event.
We have observed that some people have shared untrue, deceptive, and socially provocative statements about our organization on various social media channels.
Auckland House School
has consistently marked cultural and religious events like Holi,
Eid
, Diwali, Gurpurab, and Christmas, not as a religious mandate but as a tribute to the pluralistic spirit of India. Our aim is to foster empathy, understanding, and respect among children from all backgrounds. Participation is always voluntary, and there is no religious ritual or instruction involved.”
Critiquing the misrepresentation of information, the
school
A subsequent media release declared, “We firmly denounce efforts to portray these festivities as religious indoctrination. These maneuvers solely contribute to disrupting communal peace and misleading society. We are especially troubled that some postings have exposed data intended exclusively for private distribution, thus infringing upon confidentiality, posing risks to people’s safety, and contravening ethical standards of online behavior. This activity represents an abuse of confidential details.”
The
school
administration called for the removal of misleading content from social media and urged the public to act responsibly.
We kindly ask everyone and various platforms to promptly take down these postings and cease actions that jeopardize both organizational and personal security.
Auckland House School
is steadfastly dedicated to the principles outlined in the Constitution and the vision of unity in diversity. It also urged all conscientious individuals within society to oppose such divisive and immoral acts, and to endorse an educational system founded on mutual respect, dignity, and honesty,” the statement continued.
This dispute underscores the increasing worry about misinformation spreading through social media platforms and its ability to disturb societal peace. As the state government investigates this issue, authorities aim to safeguard the principles of inclusion and communal cohesion. (ANI)
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).