UP's RSS schools claim 30% rise in Muslim kids in 2 yrs

ALLAHABAD: About 7,000 Muslim students are studying in 1,200 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) schools across Uttar Pradesh, an increase of 30% in the last two years after a BJP-led government came to power at the Centre, the right-wing outfit has said.RSS, known for its Hindutva ideology, said these students were following all rules like reciting 'slokas' and 'bhojan mantras', and were doing very well in studies and sports. Most of these students are enrolled in rural areas.Authorities at Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Saraswati Vidya Mandir claim that Muslim boys and girls had brought laurels to their schools in the fields of sports, cultural activities and academics as well. Chintamani Singh, state inspector of Vidhya Bharti, which manages these schools, said, "Our students such as Mohammad Aqib, Aftab Alam, Ejaj Ahmad, Gufranuddin and Mohammad Akaram have won medals at national sporting events and youth commonwealth games."RSS sources said these numbers shatter the mainst ream propaganda about the organisation that is widely regarded as BJP's ideological parent. At these schools, the day starts for students with surya namaskar and singing of Vande Mataram besides vedic hymns.Singh said these children attend classes like any other student and mingle with their peers. There are 4,672 boys and 2,218 girls from the community pursuing education up to class XII at these schools, he added. Vidya Bharti also recently recruited eight Muslim teachers.“The quality of education is the prime reason why Muslim parents send their wards to our schools,“ he said. A Muslim boy studying at an RSS-managed school topped his high school examination in Assam earlier this month. “RSS is not antiMuslim or against any religion, it is pro-India with no communal agenda,“ an RSS source said.