ICC Note: An investigative team was sent to a Christian school in Madhya Pradesh, India to verify that the school had not banned the recitation of the nationalist chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” after a newspaper reported that the school had banned the chant. The reports were unfounded and the school continues to allow the chant. Many Christians in India feel uncomfortable reciting the chant because it personifies and honors the country of India as a goddess. By requiring Christian schools to implement the chant, officials are forcing Christians to choose between following their conscience and obeying the government.

7/13/2016 India (The Indian Express) – Students of a Christian school in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district had to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai on Friday to prove to a probe team sent by the district administration that the slogan had not been banned on the school campus.

The team was sent in the wake of allegations that the management of Good Shepherd Convent Senior Secondary School had, on July 1, replaced the patriotic slogan chanted after the morning assembly with one hailing the school.

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