MANGALURU, 15 FEB

The Pandeshwar police station has received a complaint against two MLAs, two corporators of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), and the leader of an organisation, accusing them of threatening the administrative board of St Gerosa School in Mangaluru.

The complaint specifically names BJP MLAs Vedavyas Kamath of Mangaluru South legislative constituency, MLA Bharat Shetty of Mangaluru North legislative constituency, and corporators Bharat and Sandeep Garodi.

According to the complaint, an audio clip went viral, alleging that Sr Prabha, a teacher from the school, made derogatory remarks about Hindu deities during a class. Subsequently, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, along with MLA Bharat Shetty, corporators Sandeep Garodi, Bharat Kumar, and Bajrang Dal leader Sharan Pumpwell, purportedly raised slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' outside the school without consulting the school's administrative board. They also allegedly made derogatory remarks against the Christian religion.

In response to the controversy, the school administration board promptly suspended Prabha, the accused teacher. Reacting to this incident, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bengaluru Archbishop Peter Machado expressed disappointment that the institution, along with many other Christian establishments in the area, faced undue humiliation from the locals and BJP party members.

He questioned the credibility of the authority and asked how they could suspend the teacher without proper inquiry. He also raised his voice for a thorough investigation.  Questioning the rise of mob rule, Archbishop Machado called for faith in a fair and orderly system of justice to prevail, one that fosters peace and harmony in society.

Home Minister G Parameshwara clarified that an FIR was filed against Shetty for going to the school and telling the parents that they should not admit their children to Christian schools.