'Is this Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas': Internet fumes as Gujarat school topper is denied award

Gujarat: Arnaz was excited in the run-up to Independence Day. She was to be felicitated for being a class topper in the SSC examination. It would have been a proud moment for her parents to see their daughter on the stage.

However, things took a different turn on August 15 when the name of the 15-year-old was not announced. Instead, the school management called the name of the second topper.

Why did the school management ignore her? Why was she not given the award?

An Intermediate first-year student Arnaz, studied class X at KT Patel Smruti Vidyalaya, a government school located in Lunava, Kheralu village in Gujarat. She comes from an economically weaker minority group. Her father is a farmer. Arnaz was a class topper in SSC and is currently studying Intermediate first year in another college.

"We were told all the SSC class toppers will be felicitated on Independence Day. I and my parents went to school to witness the proud moment. But we were surprised that my sister's name was not announced, while names of the next toppers were announced", said Unassa, elder sister of Arnaz speaking to News Meter.

As the school said that they would give her an award later, Arnaz started crying. Her parents did not know what happened.

"We did not want the award or cash prize. We just wanted to see her being felicitated and getting recognised for her hard work which would make us proud. But the teachers said the award is not given because she is not studying Intermediate in the same school, and the award will be sent to her home," said Arnaz's father Pathan Sanevar Khan.

A Twitter post on this incident is going viral on social media, with netizens questioning the government on the injustice done.

"This incident is from the state where Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes. And this is the incident of that Prime Minister's state where the Prime Minister talks about "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas". How is this everyone's support everyone's development," said Khalid Hussain, a netizen wrote on Twitter

Is minority community the reason?

Speaking to News Meter, Zubair Gopalani, an Educationist working with several NGOs in Gujarat and Maharashtra said, "Muslim community are doing so well in education. There are at least 25-30 crore Muslims in India. How can you neglect future students? There is a lot of change in the community- in terms of education and business."

Meanwhile, school authorities are not replying to the queries of the media.