Muslim school principal, teachers booked in Maharashtra over alleged ‘Pakistani song’ row
Mumbai: Police in India’s Maharashtra state have filed criminal charges against a Muslim school principal and two teachers after Hindu extremists alleged that students performed to a Pakistani song during a school event.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the case was registered in the state’s Jalna district against Kids World English School principal Wazhiyoddin Siddiqui and two staff members following a controversy triggered by social media posts and complaints from local Hindutva-linked politicians. The charges include provisions related to promoting enmity, endangering national unity and spreading misinformation.
Police said the controversy relates to a performance at the school’s annual function in March 2025. Videos circulated online in recent weeks claimed students had danced to a Pakistani song and that images of Mumtaz Qadri, a Pakistani police commando executed in 2011 over the killing of the then Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, were displayed during the event.
The allegations sparked outrage among Hindutva groups and local political leaders, with BJP legislator Babanrao Lonikar demanding action against the school’s management and calling for withdrawal of its recognition.
School authorities rejected the accusations, saying the controversy was based on manipulated and misleading social media content. Principal Siddiqui said the music used in the performance was from the Turkish TV series Diriliş: Ertuğrul, which is popular across South Asia and the Middle East. He also denied claims regarding Mumtaz Qadri’s images, saying visuals shown during the program depicted an actor from the series rather than the individual identified in social media posts. He added edited clips and false narratives turned a routine school event into a political controversy.
The incident reflects a growing trend in India where educational and cultural activities are increasingly targeted over allegations linked to religion, nationality, or perceived association with Pakistan, often resulting in legal action and public backlash against Muslim individuals and institutions.
