Author: Bijin Jose
Publication: Indiatoday.in
Date: August 7, 2016
URL:   http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/principal-teachers-quite-after-denied-permission-to-sing-national-anthem/1/734202.html

School administration denied permission citing that the national anthem was un-Islamic as it described nation to be above religion and God.

After being denied permission to sing the national anthem on Independence Day event, principal and eight teachers of a private school quit in protest. The administration did not allow the singing citing that it was against their religion.

The principal of the school has accused the school manager Zia-ul-Haq of undermining the national interest by prohibiting the students from singing the anthem.

Ritu Shukla, the principal, reportedly said that she along with other teachers had been planning an event on Independence Day. Shukla said that the manager told them that they cannot sing Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram as it violated the tenets of Islam.

NATION ABOVE GOD UNACCEPTABLE

However, the manager justified his stand by saying that national anthem had never been sung in the campus. Zia-ul-Haq said that the national anthem described nation above religion and God which was unacceptable to an ardent Muslim.

He further asserted that there was nothing above God and that he never allowed the anthem to be sung in his school. Sources said that the principal was planning to take the legal route.