Viral message claiming Article 30A restricting preaching of Hinduism in schools, colleges, fake
'Article 30A' does not exist in Indian Constitution
Mangaluru: A viral message circulating on social media platforms in Kannada language praises Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged move against 'Article 30A' in the Indian Constitution. The message claims Modi was ready to eliminate Article 30A from the Constitution.
The message claims that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, betrayed Hindus by enacting this article, restricting the preaching of Hinduism and Hindu culture in public schools and colleges. It also states that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel opposed this article, and after his pressure, Nehru withdrew it, but later reinstated it after Patel's demise.
The message further alleges that Article 30A confiscates donations to Hindu temples for the government's use, while donations to mosques and churches benefit Muslim and Christian communities respectively. Additionally, it asserts that Article 30 allows teaching the Quran in madrassas but prevents the teaching of the Gita in schools.
Our fact-check reveals that the viral claim is false. There is no Article 30A in the Indian Constitution. Article 30 indeed exists, granting rights to educational institutions established and operated by minorities. It empowers religious or linguistic minorities to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice. This article has three subsections:
1. Right to Establish Institutions: All minorities, whether religious or linguistic, have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
2. Protection of Minority Rights: If any law requires the compulsory acquisition of property owned by a minority educational institution, the state must ensure that it doesn't violate minority rights.
3. Non-Discrimination in Financial Assistance: The state cannot discriminate in providing financial aid to educational institutions run by minorities.
Article 30 enables minority communities to provide education in their own language. For instance, Muslims can use Urdu, and Christians can use English as mediums of instruction.
Furthermore, Article 28 deals with religious instruction or worship in educational institutions. Clause 1 prohibits religious instruction in state-funded institutions. However, clause 2 allows religious education in institutions administered by the state but established under specific trusts mandating religious instruction.
Conclusion:
In summary, there is no Article 30A in the Indian Constitution. Article 30 guarantees minority rights, allowing them to establish and manage educational institutions, and does not impose any restrictions on teaching religious texts. The viral claims regarding restrictions on Hinduism, unequal treatment of donations, and teaching practices are unfounded.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
