This week, a formal complaint was filed against a private school in Telangana. This particular institution, known as the Methodist Rural High School (MRHS), is operated by a consortium of missionary organisations. The complaint alleges that the school has been involved in the purported conversion of underage Hindu students.
A video featuring one of the young students recounting his experiences at school gained significant traction on social media. In the video, the student describes how the students are prevented from returning home on Sundays and coerced into attending Church meetings in the name of temple visits, claiming to be served meat and compelled to participate in religious prayers. In light of this testimony, legal action has been initiated against the school. MRHS is situated in Zaheerabad, within the Sangareddy district of Telangana. The institution is allegedly involved in forced religious conversions of minor Hindu students by grooming and brainwashing.
In the viral clip, the minor can be seen saying, “I study in Methodist Rural High School (MRHS) which is located next to the Church. I live in the hostel which is located in Zaheerabad, near school. Though we wish to go home on Sundays, they do not allow us to go. They take us to the church on Sundays by telling us that they are taking us to the temple.”
In the church, the child further explains that students are required to participate in singing sessions. Around 10 AM, they are provided with chicken before the prayer session commences. The child also demonstrates the song sung at the church, which is a Christian prayer song in Telugu.
The video was shared by a social activist group named Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) which is constantly working against forced religious conversions across Bharat. Sharing the video, LRPF from their official handle on social media platform ‘X’ wrote, “Lodged complaint with Sri @KanoongoPriyank ji, @NCPCR_ seeking cancellation of recognition to Methodist Rural High School (Pvt Aided), Zaheerabad, Telangana and FIR against its management for brainwashing minor Hindu students and converting them to Christianity.”
Lodged complaint with Sri @KanoongoPriyank ji, @NCPCR_ seeking cancellation of recognition to Methodist Rural High School (Pvt Aided), Zaheerabad, Telangana and FIR against its management for brainwashing minor Hindu students and converting them to Christianity. pic.twitter.com/8fi8lDmZbS
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) September 26, 2023
Notably, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Priyank Kanoongo told Organiser that, a probe is initiated into the matter and those involved in the illegal practice will get punished.
As of now, the NCPCR has issued a notice to the District Collector demanding report within five days. Sharing an update, the LRF wrote on social media platform ‘X’, “On receiving our complaint, the National Child Rights Commission has issued notice to the District Collector, Sangareddy u/s 13(1)(i) of the CPCR Act 2005 to inquire into Christian conversions by Methodist Rural High School, Zaheerabad and to submit ATR within 5 working days.”
On receiving our complaint, the National Child Rights Commission has issued notice to the District Collector, Sangareddy u/s 13(1)(i) of the CPCR Act 2005 to inquire into Christian conversions by Methodist Rural High School, Zaheerabad and to submit ATR within 5 working days. https://t.co/iTex1PwZha pic.twitter.com/294UCr6qTz
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) September 26, 2023
As per the complaint letter accessed by Organiser, the LRO wrote to Kanoongo sharing a clip of the class 5 student of MRHS school. In the video, he can be seen stating that his school management is taking Hostel students residing to the Church by falsely telling them that they are being taken to the Hindu Temple. Students irrespective of religion are being forced to learn & sing Christian songs. It is known that the school management is neither informing the parents nor obtaining any consent from them to take their children to Church.
The letter further mentions that it clearly appears that the innocent minor children are being brainwashed and subjected to Christian conversion without their conscience. This act of the school management is a suppression of the Right to Freedom of Religion of the minor Children guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
As per the information, the Methodist Rural High School, Zaheerabad, Telangana is a private aided school run by Christian Missionaries and receiving financial aid from the Government of Telangana. Hence, it is also a violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India which clearly states that “No person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to take part in any religious instruction that may be imparted in such institution or to attend any religious worship that may be conducted in such institution or in any premises attached thereto unless such person or, if such person is a minor, his guardian has given his consent thereto Cultural and Educational Rights”.
More details regarding the sections in the FIR and the letter from the NCPCR are awaited in this case. Organiser will update this report with all the details soon.
