Somaiya raises furore as School Edu Dept issues notice to school over CAA

Mumbai: The notice issued by School Education department to a Matunga school over alleged programme in support CAA has snowballed into a major political controversy with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has jumped on it. Former MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Education department officers have taken the vindictive action to settle political scores.

“The intentions are clear from the fact that, the notice issued to Shri Dayanand Balak Vidyalaya, Matunga, was drafted on January 11, the second Saturday, which was a government holiday. Interestingly, the news about the notice was all-over in the media on Sunday and in newspaper on January 13, Monday and the notice was served to the school on same day. The fact that it was drafted on a holiday and circulated to media before being served to the school, proves the intentions of the education department,” Somaiya said.

The official who delivered the notice to the school on January 13, pressurised the school management to reply to the same immediately, which is illegal, Somaiya alleged.

CAA is an Act passed by the Parliament of the country and The President, too has approved it. But the state government is trying to use it for political score settling. In a complaint lodged with Matunga police station, Somaiya has said, “Sub Inspector, Education, BMC DM Pokhrankar has misused government circular dated January 11, 2020 to create atmosphere of fear among the teachers, students and parents. It is not just misuse of power, but contempt of The Constitution of India, Parliament and The President of India.

Somaiya claimed that the said programme was organised by one social organisation, it was never held on the school premises.