Bantwal: Gana Homa at school sparks controversy; Prez resigns

Bantwal: A Gana Homa held at a government school near Vittal in Bantwal has sparked a controversy in the Taluk.

It is said that a Ganapati Homa was held at the Padibagilu government school near Vittal on May 6. The tradition has been followed for the past 15 years.

However, this year the education department received a complaint regarding a school conducting Hindu rituals at its premises.

Following this, The block education officer subjected the president of the school development committee, Balakrishna Karanth to an investigation and a report was sent to DDPI. Karanth later tendered resignation to his position.

However, the education department’s move was opposed by the school committee and the parents. They claimed that people of all communities live in harmony in the village and bhajans too are held in school every Thursday.

Also, when the school was on the verge of shutting down, villagers pooled money and reopened the school, they added.

Reacting to this, DK DDPI Sudhakar said,” The state government has said that the schools should practice equality. There is no place for religious practices at school. We all must follow the same.”