Para-teacher arrested over recitation of Allama Iqbal prayer in UP school
Bareilly, Dec 24: A 'shiksha mitra' or para-teacher was arrested on Saturday after he was accused of allowing the recitation "madrassa-type prayers" in a school here by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, police said.
The Para-teacher was also dismissed from service for reciting the Urdu prayer, they said.
"Shiksha mitra Waziruddin was arrested on Saturday for hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus. He has been sent to jail," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rajkumar Agarwal said.
Basic Education Officer of the district Vinay Kumar said that Waziruddin has also been dismissed from service.
He added that the school's principal, Nahid Siddiqui, was suspended earlier.
Police had on Friday recorded the statements of staff at a school here over the recitation of an Urdu prayer at the accusation of right wing group VHP.
The prayer was later found to have been written by famous Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, who is also known to have written 'Sare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara.'
The incident happened at a government higher primary school in Faridpur, according to Vinay Kumar.
Agarwal had on Friday said that a video of the alleged incident had been sent for forensic examination.
In the said video, students can be heard singing, "Mere Allah burai se bachana mujhko, nek jo rah ho us rah pe chalana mujhko Lab pe aati he dua ban ke tamanna meri..."
Some members of the local unit of the VHP accused Siddiqui and Waziruddin of hurting religious sentiments of the people in a Hindu-dominated area, Kumar said.
The VHP also alleged that the accused were trying to convert the students, he said.
Based on a complaint by the VHP's city president Sompal Rathore, an FIR was registered against the principal and the Para-teacher on Wednesday.
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Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
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Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
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Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
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The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
