Madhya Pradesh school teacher suspended over ‘namaz during yoga’ row, denies allegations
A government school teacher in Burhanpur district has been suspended after being accused of teaching Hindu students Islamic prayers (namaz) under the guise of yoga and Surya Namaskar, media reports said.
The allegation has triggered political and communal tensions in the region, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry.
The teacher, Jaboor Tadvi, posted at the Government Middle School in Deohari village under Shahpur police station limits, was suspended on Friday after protests by members of the Hindu Jagran Manch.
According to district officials, some parents and villagers complained during the Diwali holidays that students were being made to perform postures resembling namaz during yoga sessions.
Following the complaints, the school’s in-charge principal reported the matter to the District Education Officer, who sent a team to investigate.
Subsequently, representatives of the Hindu Jagran Manch arrived at the school and accused Tadvi of “teaching namaz to Hindu children under the pretext of Surya Namaskar” and “promoting religious conversion.” They demanded his immediate suspension.
Additional Collector Veer Singh Chauhan confirmed the action, saying, “We received information regarding the incident. The concerned teacher has been suspended, and an investigation has been initiated.”
In a social media post, Jaboor Tadvi denied the charges, calling them “completely baseless.”
He said that he had been following government guidelines to teach yoga and that a yoga pose (Shashankasana) might have been misunderstood.
“The children were simply practising yoga. The posture was Shashankasana, which visually resembles one of the namaz positions. Suspending me without hearing my side is unjust,” Tadvi wrote.
Ajit Pardeshi, district coordinator of the Hindu Jagran Manch, alleged the act was deliberate:
“A government teacher was making children perform postures resembling namaz under the pretext of yoga. The principal failed to notice it. Hindu sentiments are hurt, and this is wrong.”
Meanwhile, several Muslim social workers and community representatives have expressed support for Tadvi, urging the administration to ensure an impartial and fact-based inquiry before taking further action.
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