‘Pakistani extremist song’ at school event in Maharashtra: NHRC issues notice to CBSE

NHRC, Students at School Event (Visual Source: X)

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday called for action taken on the reports of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Jalna district administration and the Maharashtra police over allegations that minor children performed an extremist “Pakistani” song during an annual daily function at a school in Maharashtra’s Jalna district.Taking cognizance of a complaint, an NHRC bench headed by member Priyank Kanoongo acted under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The commission directed the authorities to investigate the allegations and submit reports within two weeks. According to a communication issued by the NHRC’s law division on Wednesday, notices have been sent to the CBSE chairman, Jalna district magistrate and superintendent of police, Jalna.The complaint relates to an annual day program at Kids World English School in Partur, Jalna district. According to the whistleblower, “underage children were forced to perform a Pakistani extremist song promoting violence, accompanied by a background display of terrorist Mumtaz Qadri.”The complainant also alleged that after raising the issue in his capacity as a journalist, he has faced action from both the school administration and the local police.“The complainant further alleged that after his press report to alert the authorities, both the school administration and the Jalna police have launched a campaign of retaliation, issuing formal withdrawal notices to X and threatening him with criminal cases to suppress the investigation,” the NHRC said.Asking for the commission’s intervention, the complainant asked for formal knowledge of the alleged extremist content displayed during the school event, an independent investigation into the alleged administrative intimidation and the protection of investigative journalists from reprisals by law enforcement.After examining the complaint, the NHRC observed that the allegations “prima facie appear to be violations of the human rights of the victims”. The commission directed the CBSE chairman, district magistrate and superintendent of police, Jalna, “to investigate the allegations made in the complaint and submit an action report within two weeks for consideration by the commission.”A case has earlier been registered against the principal and two teachers of the school. The case was filed under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections dealing with acts affecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, promoting enmity between groups, spreading misinformation affecting national integration and circulating false information likely to cause public alarm.However, the school administration vehemently denied the allegations. Director Siddiqui said that the music used during the show was from the popular Turkish TV series Ertugrul Ghazi and not a Pakistani song.