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The owner of a private school in Kerala sent a message to a parents’ WhatsApp group telling students who missed the Independence Day celebrations to “go to Pakistan” and saying they did not deserve to live in India. Raju Davis, the owner of Dr Raju Davis International and Sainik School in Mala, Thrissur, sparked outrage with his comments.
The voice message was reportedly sent after the Independence Day celebration.
“This is a really bad thing, and it's unbearable. When celebrating a country's Independence Day, staying at home in defiance of it is very wrong. Such people should go and live in some other country like Pakistan. They do not deserve to live here,” he said in the voice note.
He also warned that students who failed to attend the celebrations would be barred from entering their classrooms and would have to provide a formal explanation. “I won't allow them in my class tomorrow unless the parents come directly and give me an explanation,” he said. He also says that such behaviour is among the reasons children grow up to be disrespectful.
The Student Federation of India (SFI) conducted a protest march to the school after his remarks became public.
Despite the criticism, Raju defended his remarks, stating in a clarification that he stood by his comments. “I never mentioned any religion. I didn’t say go to Bangladesh, Arab countries or Sudan. I said Pakistan because of my patriotism. Because Pakistan is an enemy country for India. I am not thinking it's wrong, because I never made any communal remarks,” he told Media One.
He then clarified that the students would be barred from attending only one class period. “During this single period, the school will conduct a lesson on Indian independence, as the students missed Independence Day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fayis AH, president of the Fraternity Movement in Thrissur district, has filed a police complaint against Raju in Thrissur.