Courtesy Amit Shah, several schools in Rohtak shut today

The State government seems to have forgotten its earlier order banning the use of school buses to ferry people for political rallies.

Haryana BJP leaders may be ecstatic in welcoming party chief Amit Shah, but city schools in Rohtak have to bear it with a grin, as many private schools were forced to shut schools or make an alternate arrangements for ferrying students. Reason: Administration has procured school buses to take people to Amit Shah's rally.

While some cited potential traffic jams as the reason for closures, others say their buses will be deputed for Shah's rally as per instructions received from the district administration.

The State government seems to have forgotten its earlier order banning the use of school buses to ferry people for political rallies.

"The use of force or coercive methods on managements of private schools to send their buses for the purpose of rallies shall be prohibited henceforth, said a circular issued by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home department.

"The administration had asked for our buses for the rally. Therefore, many schools, including ours, had to declare it a holiday today," said Ravi Gugnani, director, Scholars Rosary School, Rohtak, reports Hindustan Times.

Superintendent of police (SP) Pankaj Nain maintained that the police department did not requisition any school buses.

The private school bodies have condemned the government for not following the guidelines.

In October, last year the federation of private schools welfare association, Haryana, had moved the High Court to seek a ban on the use of school buses to ferry public to political rallies.

OneIndia News