Ballia college shut over Vande Matram ‘ban’

Ballia (UP), October 10

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A day after a magisterial probe was ordered to investigate an alleged ban on singing Vande Matram and chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai” at a government-aided inter-college in Ballia district, the authorities have closed it indefinitely.

“We have closed the college till further orders. It will be reopened after permission from the administration,” said Principal of Gandhi Mohammad Ali Memorial (GMAM) Inter College, Majid Nasir. On the direction of the district administration, the Principal pasted a notice dated Tuesday at the college that there was freedom to recite or sing “Bharat Mata ki jai”, “Vande Matram”, “Jana Gana Mana” etc.

District Magistrate Bhawani Singh Khangaraut and Superintendent of Police Sriparna Ganguly visited the college yesterday to examine the allegation that there was a ban on singing “Vande Matram” and chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai” at the college. They later ordered a magisterial probe.

An FIR was registered on Monday by Class 12 student Anuj Kumar Gaur that he and three other school students were attacked at the college gate. Gaur alleged they were attacked at the behest of Nasir and a few teachers.

He claimed Nasir and the teachers were angry with him after he told a social organisation and mediapersons on Friday that singing “Vande Matram” and chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai” were not allowed in the college.

Gaur stated in the FIR that around 20 to 25 men attacked them with lathis, while raising “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans. — PTI