The incident happened at a government primary school in Belgaum district in Karnataka on Thursday (March 24) night.
Days after Islamists protested, Maa Saraswati idol in a government primary school in Karnataka’s Belgaum district was desecrated Thursday (March 24) night.
The school authorities got to know of the vandalism only Friday (March 25) morning when the local residents alerted the school authorities.
From the first week of February, Islamists have been demanding that Muslim students in burqa be allowed in classrooms in Karnataka schools.
When the school authorities denied permission, the Muslim students moved Karnataka High Court requesting the court to ask the school authorities to provide the required permission.
In a significant verdict on March 15, the three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court ruled that hijab is not mandatory in Islam and school authorities can not be forced to allow it in classrooms.
This is not the first time when Maa Saraswati idol has been vandalised. Recently, idols of Maa Saraswati, Swami Vivekanand and Mahatma Gandhi in a government primary school in Shivamogga district were vandalised.
Islamists in Karnataka have been demanding a ban on Saraswati pooja in schools. During protests against burqa in classrooms, Islamists have also demanded a ban on Saraswati pooja in schools.
Maa Saraswati is goddess of learning in Hindu religion and is worshipped all over the country on the day of Saraswati pooja as a mark of respect. In Bharat, Saraswati Vandana is a daily ritual in all the schools before classes resume.
Idol worship is prohibited in Islam and Quran strictly prohibits its followers from idol worshipping. As per Quran, idol worship is a punishable sin.
In September 2018, AIMIM leader and MLA in Mumabi Waris Pathan had chanted ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ in front of a Ganesha idol during Ganpati celebrations.
Later he had to issue an apology as Islamists reminded him that idol worship is not allowed in Islam.
“Recently, I uttered some words which I should have not done. But as a human being, everyone commits mistakes. So had I. But I know Allah will forgive me and so will you all. It was a mistake and I won’t do it again,” Pathan later said in a video apology message.
