Haryana: Haryana Teachers expected to look after Yamunanagar Temple, Says Khattar Govt

The Quint - 1 November 2017

Haryana Teachers to Undergo ‘Pujari Training’, Says Khattar Govt
Sanjana Ray

The ML Khattar government on Wednesday has carried out a new diktat, wherein teachers of various schools in Haryana are to undergo ‘pujari training’, in light of the upcoming mela at Yamunanagar Temple.

Times Now, which accessed the controversial note by the Government that is issuing the order, reported that the teachers are expected to look after the mandir during the mela, distribute prasad, and perform the puja. Additionally, any teacher who dares to skip the training session will be issued a show-cause notice by the government.

The Haryana government, however, has clarified that the teachers are only being called in to help with the distribution of the sweets, and not for alleged training, reports ANI.

Teachers called in for ‘Prasad’ distribution at fair in Yamuna Nagar and not for being given training to be a priest.
Jawahar Yadav, former OSD to Chief Minister Khattar told ANI.


Jawahar Yadav tells ANI that the teachers are only being called in for prasad-distribution, not priest-training.
(Photo courtesy: ANI)

According to the original claim, as reported by Times Now, the government has made provisions for special camps to be set up, for the training of these teachers in the ways of a priest.

The teachers have naturally erupted in protest against the forced training that they are expected to undergo. Their main argument is the fact that their job is to educate their students in academia, not in religious sentiments.

Senior leaders of the opposition party too, have publicly criticised this move of the Khattar government, saying that the BJP is placing religion over education, a fact which is sure to severely impact the academic growth of the students in concern.

This is not the first time that the Khattar government has faced criticism for passing diktats that seem to promote ‘forced saffronisation’. Earlier, it had stated that no new meat shops around Gurugram would be given official licenses to set up in the area.