'I'm Christian, I can't hoist or salute national flag': Tamil Nadu government school headmistress

Tamil Nadu's government school's headmistress refused to hoist the national flag during independence day event and stated that her religion disallowed her to do so.

A government school in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri district is reeling in controversy after the school headmistress refused to hoist the national flag and 'salute' it on the occasion of the independence day celebration.

Tamilselvi, the headmistress, is slated to retire this year and the August 15th celebration is said to have been arranged in order to felicitate her.

Sources confirmed that the flag was hoisted by the assistant headmistress on the pretext that the headmistress's religious belief did not allow her to do so. A member of the staff for over four years, Tamilselvi refused to hoist the national flag or salute the tricolour this year.

Tamilselvi, in a recorded video, reasoned about her act of abstinence and attributed the same to her being a Yakoba Christian. While stating that she meant no harm or disrespect to the flag, she said, "We only salute God and no one else. We respect the flag but we will only salute God. So, we asked the assistant headmistress to hoist the flag."

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Subsequently, a formal complaint was handed over to Dharmapuri's chief education officer (CEO) and brought to light the incident wherein the top-most officer of a government-run school denied hoisting the flag on the occasion of independence day. In the complaint, it has been mentioned that the headmistress, in concern, took leave during the preceding independence day celebrations. And that she did it over the years on the pretext of sick leave.

Tamilselvi has been alleged of showcasing and practising bias towards one religion, moreover in a government institution, and the same was mentioned in the complaint given to the district CEO.