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Agartala: The Principal of a Christian Missionary school located at Dhajanagar on the outskirts of Udaipur city in Tripura sought protection from the administration after a Hindu right-wing organization allegedly resorted to the use of force on the school authorities to organize Saraswati Puja on its premises.
Tessy Joseph, the principal of Don Bosco School, Udaipur, narrated the entire incident in a letter to District Magistrate, Gomati, Tarit Kanti Chakma, demanding his intervention to handle the situation. According to the letter, a group of people who identified themselves as volunteers of Hindu Jagaran Mancha visited the Tripura Christian school premises multiple times, seeking permission to organise Saraswati Puja.
“We have been running Don Bosco School, Udaipur since 1999, working relentlessly for the development of the Gomati District and adjoining Districts as well as the State. This school is a Christian Minority Institution, enjoying its Constitutional right guaranteed under Article 29 and 30 of The Constitution of India (Certificate of Minority Institution attached herewith). We are a fully unaided school running on our own. Although our institution is primarily meant for Christian students, we cater to students from all sections/religions of the State, emphasizing the creation of better human beings and citizens of India.
On February 8 around 1:30 pm, a group of people identifying themselves as members of Hindu Jagran Manch visited my office and, in my absence, met the Vice-Principal, demanding to conduct Saraswati Puja in the school. The Vice Principal politely informed them that we are a Christian Minority Institution and cannot allow them to do so within the school premises, as The Constitution of India grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. They returned, threatening us that they would compel the institution to conduct Saraswati Puja in the school premises,” the letter reads.
This story was originally published in eastmojo.com. Read the full story here.