AN ATTEMPT to "forcibly baptise" Sikh
students studying in Class V and above at Akal
Academy here
was foiled after enraged parents of about 70 students reached the
school to oppose the proposed move.

The school's Gurbani teacher; Kulwinder Kaur, had reportedly announced that all the students bearing "Singh" as their middle name or surname would be baptised in the school, irrespective of their wish, a fiat, which attracted sharp criticism from the
parents.

"It was announced that all Sikh students of Class V and above should come to school after rinsing their hair, as they would be baptised the next day while those who failed would be made to do so at the school," one of the parents told HT. "When some students re sisted, saying they would not attend
the school and the baptism ceremony on Saturday the , teacher and the principal told them to leave the school instead," said a student's father who had reached the school to lodge his protest.

As the school authorities found the resentment increasing among the parents,
they called the police. Later, the parents held a meeting with the Director
of Akal Academy Jai Inder Singh, who softened , the school's stand and said
only interested students would be baptised. He also gave an assurance that
the wards of protesting parents would not be harassed.

However, talking to mediapersons, Singh denied the issuance of any such
directive by the school authorities. He said it was the mission of their
institutes to spread values of Sikhism and they would continue to inspire
the students to become "Amritdharis" .

Later, 28 students of the school were baptised at a function organised on
the school premises. The figure could have crossed three hundred had the
"directive" been implemented forcefully said , one of the parents.