Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) has issued a circular to North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on the recital of ‘Gayatri Mantra’ during morning assemblies in schools which are owned by the latter’s education department.

DMC’s chief, Zafarul Islam Khan, said that many teachers and students from minority communities may dislike delivering mantras of a particular religion and this may harm the secular policy, reported Tribune India. Moreover, he added that the notice was sent to NDMC’s education department asking it to explain as to why such a circular had been issued by it. 

Background

On September 6, NDMC’s education department issued a circular which instructed its school to recite Gayatri Mantra and sing the National Anthem. It also encouraged its students for general awareness, personal hygiene, physical exercise, and moral education. It explained how Gayatri Mantra is a Bhajan of Rig Veda which is dedicated to Surya Devata, as reported by Jansatta.

The BJP-governed civic body operates 765 primary schools, and 2.2 lakh students are enrolled in these schools, as reported by NDTV.

What NDMC had to say

Ritu Goel, Chief of Education Committee told in NDMC’s defence that she had no clue about the ongoing notice issued by the DMC on its stand to recite Gayatri Mantra. But she had explained that reciting Gayatri Mantra was not mandatory. “We have already clarified it’s not mandatory in our schools,” she said to India Today. She said that recital of the Gayatri Mantra was not a standalone direction and that the circular contained general directions to ensure personal hygiene and overall well-being of students.

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