Mangaluru School Teacher's Alleged Remarks Against Sri Ram, PM Modi Spark Tensions In Karnataka

Sister Prabha, a teacher at St Gerosa English Higher Primary School in Karnataka's Mangaluru, is under scrutiny for allegedly making disrespectful comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lord Ram during a Class 7 lesson on 8 February. The incident has sparked widespread attention and controversy surrounding the teacher's conduct.

It was reported that Sister Prabha allegedly used inappropriate language while discussing these topics, which led to an uproar among some parents and Hindu activists after a few students informed their families about the incident.

Following the incident, there were protests outside the school, with demands for action against Sister Prabha.

Additionally, a parent named Sharath Kumar filed a complaint with the Mangalore South police station, leading to the initiation of an inquiry by the block education officer.

The Karnataka government has designated a senior IAS officer from the education department to investigate the incident at St Gerosa.

Dakshina Kannada district's minister in charge, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced that Akash Shankar, additional education department commissioner in Kalaburagi, will lead the inquiry. Sister Prabha, the teacher in question, faced suspension following the circulation of three voice notes containing the allegations against her.

Legal action has been taken against the MLAs, corporators, and the Bajrang Dal leader under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

A few days ago, MLA Bharath Shetty, questioned why the police booked him despite him not being present at the site of the protests against the teacher in question.

Shetty cites some of the complaints raised by the parents, in which Sister Prabha was allegedly asking the students if "Sri Ram will come to life if his stone sculpture is garlanded with flowers" and that "Prime Minister Modi is responsible for the deaths in Godhra".

He alleges that the police have filed an FIR against him and MLA Vedvyas Kamath despite them not being on the spot on 11 February. He says that the Congress government has created an environment where any nationalist voices are silenced.

The allegations against Sister Prabha include claims that she stated the Mahabharat and Ramayana were "imaginary" and purportedly attempted to instill "anti-Hindu" sentiments among the students.

Sister Anitha mentioned that Sister Prabha explained her 'perspective' while teaching the poem: "Temples, churches, and mosques are only buildings. God dwells in the human hearts. Hence, it is not right to kill human beings in the name of God."

In response, senior Congress leader and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) vice-president Ivan D’Souza announced that his party intended to present a memorandum to the chief minister and Assembly Speaker urging disciplinary action against Vedavyas Kamath and Mangaluru North MLA Y Bharat Shetty, both of whom were involved in the protest, for allegedly making statements aimed at inciting communal animosity regarding the school issue.