Indian school ‘expels’ child over non-vegetarian biryani

NEW DELHI

A school has reportedly "expelled" a child student over non-vegetarian food in the northern India state of Uttar Pradesh, triggering authorities to begin a probe.

“A three-member investigation committee has been constituted by the District School Inspector Amroha to investigate and take action on the viral video,” the police in state’s Amroha district said, responding to a social media post regarding the issue, which demanded action into the matter.

A video had surfaced on social media showing a heated exchange between the school principal and the mother of the student.

“Your child says that he wants to convert everyone to Islam by making them eat non-vegetarian food," the principal is said to be telling the mother of the kid, in the purported video.

The student, who is said to be between age 5 and 7, carried rice dish which contains non-vegetarian items, known as biryani, and is popular among the Muslim community.

The incident has triggered a strong reaction from politicians and social activists, condemning the growing hatred against Muslims and minorities in the society.

Mohd Shamim Khan, a leader of the opposition Congress party wrote on X: “This is happening because of the hatred spread in the society. If only the people of the society had openly opposed the hateful people then all this would not have happened."

The school principal has, however, dismissed the charges.

“The boy damaged the temple within the school campus and offered biryani (mixed rice non-vegetarian dish) to his classmates, which was objected to by their parents. I had called a parent-teacher meeting on Wednesday but his mother blamed me,” English daily The Indian Express quoted the principal as saying in a report.

It added that the class third student was expelled on Wednesday.