Governor slams missionary school for occult practice

Lucknow, Sep 12 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar today took strong exception to the reported occult session in a reputed school of the state capital, and said religion should not be mixed with such practices.

The Governor made these reactions before a delegation of Missionary educational institutions which met him this evening following an attack by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists on Loreto Convent School here on Sunday after media reported that the school had organised a 'special assembly' to make students interact with "Lord Jesus".

Mr Rajeswar said occult practices should be discouraged in schools.

The Governor, at the same time, condemned the vandalism in the school premises.

But the school authorities, in a memorandum to the governor, denied holding an occult session and termed the September 6 assembly as an inter-religion prayer. ''The prayer experience was an optional one for those who desired to attend...the students will verify that the principal told them that they were free to stay or leave the hall,'' the memorandum signed by Principal Sister Monica claimed.

The school also ''strongly rejected'' the use of the term 'occult' which had appeared in a section of the media.

Father Paul Rodricks, secretary of Catholic Institute of Uttar Pradesh told reporters here that they have demanded security in all Anglo-Indian schools from the Governor and assured that such spritual session would not be held in future.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Ramendra Tripathi has ordered a probe, to be completed within three days, into the 'special assembly' issue. The probe would look into the various aspects of the assembly organised by the school. The probe team would talk to students, teachers, Principal Sister Monica and parents of the students who attended the assembly.

The probe was ordered on September 10, after parents slammed the school management for organising such events without their permission. Parents said such acts could create a wrong impression in the minds of impressionable students.

The school, so far, has termed the event as a 'prayer meeting' which students were not forced to attend. A school spokesperson told reporters that students and teachers were asked to attend the assembly at their own free will.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had also said the probe would look into all the aspects. ''It would not be appropriate to comment on the issue before the probe findings were finalised,'' he added.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari lamented that the CM refused to comment on the BJYM vandalism. ''He should have at least criticised the BJP for its youth wing's undemocratic behaviour,'' he quipped.

The local media had reported that Loreto Convent had organised a special assembly on September 6 in which around 250 girls of classes VIII to XII participated. The demonstration was carried by members of the 'Chandra Cult' based in Krishnanagar of West Bengal.

Nobo Kumar of the cult served as a medium to bring 'Ishu' to heal and bless the audience.

But the experience reportedly left most of the students petrified and shocked. Some of the girls fainted after the assembly.

Students claimed that Nobo Kumar went around grunting and growling while inducing Jesus to enter his body. Nobo Kumar held the right hand of children and rubbed a Cross on it when some of them stepped forward to seek the "Lord's" blessing.

UNI NAB/MB MSJ BD1910