Calicut, Kerala: In a statement produced from his office, the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Aubakr Ahmad condemned the recent incident of school vandalization in Mancherial District’s Kannepally, Telangana, wherein a group of criminals attacked a Catholic school, causing immense damage and instilling fear within the community. ‘The rise in assaults on places of worship and educational institutions belonging to minority communities is deeply troubling. As the Grand Mufti of India, I urge the tremendous need to advocate for justice and uphold the principles of harmony and protection of minority rights in our country, the statement extended.
The Grand Mufti also said the attack on the school is not just an isolated act of violence, but the number of incidents is increasing in the country, disregarding the sanctity of education and places of worship. Such reprehensible acts tarnish the nation’s image and pose a grave threat to the Constitution’s fundamental values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It’s necessary to uphold the constitutional right of minorities to manage their educational institutions autonomously. Both central and state governments bear the responsibility to safeguard this right.
In light of the Telangana incident, it’s concerning that instead of pursuing justice against the perpetrators, authorities have filed charges against the staff of Mother Teresa School, alleging they’ve offended religious sentiments. The Grand Mufti wrote to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri Revanth Reddy, to retract the case against the school and ensure swift and appropriate punishment for those responsible for the attack. The letter stressed that decisive actions can only end such injustices and promote societal harmony and tolerance.
