Chennai, March 23: On Thursday, the Coimbatore city police lodged a case against three private schools for allegedly escorting students to take part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow on Monday, March 18, reported The New Indian Express.
Three schools namely Chinmaya Matriculation School, Chinmaya CBSE School at Vadavalli, and Chinmaya School at RS Puram made 22 students of their schools to dress as Hindu deities and additionally, students were asked to wear saffron-coloured cloth strips which had the party insignia on them and were made to recite poems through a duration of the roadshow, the Express report said citing police sources.
Students present at the roadshow reportedly said school authorities instructed them to gather at the Sai Baba Colony junction two hours before the event. This was close to the starting point of the roadshow, between Ganga Hospital on Mettupalayam Road and the Head Post Office in R.S. Puram.
The Election Commission prohibits children from being used for any election-related campaign.
The District Education Officer has directed the management of Sri Sai Baba Vidyalayam Aided Middle School to take severe action against them and submit a comprehensive report on the matter.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) M. Balamurali, addressing media persons, said: “We have initiated an investigation. Prior to the event, all schools were explicitly instructed to abstain from such practices.”
Assistant Returning Officer P. Suresh, along with the school education department of the state, commenced an investigation, and simultaneously issued notices to the three schools.
Assistant Returning Officer P. Suresh told media persons that these practices violate the Model Code of Conduct and after the inquiry was completed, the report would be forwarded to the Election Commission of India officials.
Further, the Assistant Returning Officer filed a complaint with the Saibaba Colony police on Wednesday night, March 20.
A detailed inquiry was conducted by Inspector Saravanan and a case was filed against the three schools under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act on Thursday night.
The police had also registered a case against a school functioning in the Saibaba Kovil area which had also participated in the show on Tuesday, March 19.
