[Students of the DPS Srinagar boycotted their classes on Friday as administration of the School.]
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday voiced concern over the sacking of a teacher for wearing the “Abaya” by the Delhi Public School management here and said it was a “serious issue and Kashmir is not France”.
Replying to a question in the state assembly, which sought the details about a news report about the DPS management in Srinagar sacking the teacher, state education minister, Naeem Akhtar said, “It is a serious issue government will inquire it”.
The woman teacher wearing the Abaya was working at DPS Athwajan on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The abaya "cloak", sometimes also called an aba, is a simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by Muslim women across the world.
“We live in a multi-religious, secular country. This is not France, least of all, it cannot be done in the state,” affirmed Akhtar.
Reports in the local media said the DPS management had sacked a female teacher after she refused to accept the management’s directive not to wear the Abaya inside the school.
Meanwhile, Delhi Public School (Pantha Chowk) students Friday boycotted classes and staged protest demonstration against administration’s diktat banning wearing of ‘Abaya’ within school premises.
Students accused the DPS authorities of “interfering into religious affairs” of Muslims by denying Muslim girls including teachers the right to wear Abaya (a veil meant to cover body) within the school premises.
They said recently a female teacher was reprimanded by school authorities for wearing Abaya.
“This female teacher was asked by authorities to desist from wearing Abaya within the school if she wanted to continue her job or else quit,” said a group of students, adding the teacher chose latter.
“She left the job in protest – protesting school’s interference in religious affairs!” students said.
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