Amid the ongoing row in a Christian management-run school in Karnataka, state Education Minister BC Nagesh has claimed that Bible and the Quran are religious texts but the Bhagavad Gita is not as it speaks about the “values and life” and not religious practices.
The minister was reacting to a question about the government's proposal to introduce Bhagavad Gita in the school syllabus, even though religious books and practices cannot be introduced in schools registered under the Karnataka Education Act.
Bangalore Archbishop Peter Machado had also questioned the government's discriminatory policy allowing books of one religion in school while others are not.
Recently, the education department had issued a notice to Clarence High School in Bengaluru over a circular making Bible compulsory.
The school had sought an undertaking from parents of class 11 students that they have no objection to the Bible being taught there.
This was opposed by several right-wing groups accusing the school of forcing non-Christian students to read the Bible.
The Department of Education has also given a direction for the Block Education Officers (BEO) to inspect all the Christian institutions in the state regarding the issue of making the reading of the Bible compulsory for schoolchildren.
The school has however rejected the charges and said that the circular was only for Christian students.
Clarence High School has a history of 100 years, and according to the authorities, 75 per cent of the children studying there are Christians.
Don't give Bible colour to all Christian schools
On Thursday, Bishop Machado said that it is not good to give "Bible colour" to all Christian schools in the state.
"It is not correct to paint all Christian schools with Bible colour. If the government wants to investigate the matter, let them conduct an inquiry. Let them find out how many children have been converted," he said.
"It is incorrect to charge that the Bible is made compulsory for all students. It is not mandatory for students belonging to Hindu and Muslim communities," the Bishop said further.
(With inputs from agencies)