Tensions escalated at Mother Teresa School in Kannepally, Dandepalli Mandal of Mancharyala District as devotees of Lord Hanuman gathered to protest against alleged misconduct by the school principal, Jobi. The protest, fueled by anger over the removal of saffron clothes worn by students who had taken Hanuman Deeksha, resulted in a siege of the school premises and destruction of office property.
The unrest stemmed from an incident on 16 April 2024, where fourth-grade students adorned with Hanumanmala (garlands) arrived at the school to sit for their Bangaru Deeven, Gorlavidyaditya, and Harshavardhana exams. However, Principal Jobi barred the students from taking the exams while wearing the garlands. Instead, they were instructed to remove the saffron clothes and don the school uniform before being allowed to proceed with the examinations.
News of this incident quickly spread, drawing hundreds of Hanuman devotees to the school in protest. Together with parents, they surrounded the school and vented their anger by damaging office mirrors. The demonstrators demanded swift action against Principal Jobi, accusing him of disrespecting both the students and the school’s traditions.
In response to the escalating situation, Manchiryala Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ashok Kumar, accompanied by police and CRPF forces, arrived at the scene to restore order. The protesters urged for punitive measures against Principal Jobi, including the cancellation of the school’s permission to operate.
Amidst the uproar, Manchiryala Education Officer (MEO) Ravinder issued a show cause notice to the school management, requiring them to justify within two days why the school’s permission should not be revoked. DCP Ashok Kumar assured that legal action would be taken against Principal Jobi for his actions regarding the mala-wearing students.
Stop peddling your jihadi narrative, ❤️de ka factchecker.!!
Principal Jobi forced the students to remove the clothes of those who were in Hanuman deeksha and change to school uniform, until then they were not allowed to write the exams.
People in Hanuman deeksha protested.! pic.twitter.com/6c2OtZEnPg
— Gems Of Telangana (@GemsOfKCR) April 17, 2024
This is what exactly happened. However, Dhanya Rajendran and her News Minute “news” portal once again peddled only half-truths about the incident, making it look like the Hindus were the ones who were imposing on the “minorities“.
In a report on their portal, they published a “report” stating that a “mob” in saffron attire, chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” attacked Mother Teresa High School in Kannepally village, Telangana. They only focused on the aftermath of the issue – vandalized property, assaulted Principal Jaimon Joseph, and forced him to chant Jai Shri Ram slogan and wrote that this was because “he allegedly refused entry” to three Hindu students observing Hanuman Deeksha. They also focused only on how “the mob coerced an apology from the principal, made him wear a saffron scarf“, and later filed an FIR against him and the school correspondent, Jobbi Dominic, for hurting religious sentiments.
The entire piece shows only one side of the story, it does not mention anything about the students who were not allowed to enter with their saffron attire owing to their penance.
The byline read, “The Hindu group was offended allegedly after the school administration refused to allow three Hindu students who came in saffron attire as they were observing Hanuman Deeksha.”
Telangana: Hindu mob attacks Catholic school, forces principal to chant Jai Shri Ramhttps://t.co/QF7GcZYJ9O
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) April 18, 2024
Peddling half-truths to show the Hindus in a poor light and trying to set a narrative that the “minorities” were “suffering” because of the “saffron Hindu mobs“.
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