A school in Odisha allegedly held a meeting on Friday to mourn the demise of BJP stalwart and former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, Kamalakanta Das, the headmaster of a primary school in Balasore district allegedly informed the staff of his school that Vajypayee had passed away. He then went on to ask them to close the school for the day. The students and teachers held a memorial meeting on Friday to pay respects to the former PM, and then closed the school as per direction of Das, sources told the paper.
However, the incident came to light after locals came to know about the meet and complained to the District Collector seeking strict action against the headmaster. The Collector has asked for a probe into the alleged incident and has sought a report from the District Project Coordinator (DPC) of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan by Monday. “The teachers admitted to have conducted the meet following the information from the headmaster, who too apologized for his mistake. I have submitted my report to the collector holding Das responsible for the entire episode,” Collector, DPC Surendra Prasad Sankhua told the newspaper.
The headmaster was not present in the school on Friday and was said to be attending a training programme of teachers in a school at Santaragadia. He reportedly told a school committee member that he got the incorrect information from another teacher at the programme.
The paper also quotes Collector Sanatan Mallik as saying, “He will be placed under suspension and if required criminals proceedings will also be initiated against the headmaster."
Vajpayee, who is 90, has been keeping unwell for some years now and does not make any public appearances.
Jharkhand’s education minister Neera Yadav "paid her respects" to former President APJ Abdul Kalam earlier in July, when the latter was very much alive.
A photograph of her garlanding his picture at an event later went viral drawing ire from social media users.