Hyderabad 'Kalma' row: BJP, Hindu seers slam 'backdoor conversion' of Class 2 student
Synopsis
A homework entry in a Hyderabad Class 2 student's diary — asking the child to recite the Kalma — has ignited a political firestorm, with BJP leaders demanding a police probe and questioning Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's silence. The school dismissed the teacher, but the political battle over religious boundaries in private education is far from over.
Key Takeaways
A Class 2 student at a private school in Hyderabad's Saidabad area was reportedly asked to recite the Kalma as a homework assignment.
The school management terminated the teacher after parents raised objections and the matter escalated publicly.
Sriniwas called it 'backdoor conversion of Hindu students' and demanded a probe by the Police Commissioner .
BJP spokesperson Mahesh Naamani said exposing students to religious content in school is 'a breach of trust'.
Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das and Seer Sitaram Das condemned the incident, with the latter calling it a 'conspiracy to convert Sanatani children'.
The BJP has demanded responses from the Telangana Education Minister , Education Chief Secretary , and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy .
A Class 2 student at a private school in Hyderabad's Saidabad area was reportedly asked by a teacher to recite the Kalma as a homework activity, triggering sharp condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindu religious leaders on Thursday, 16 July, who labelled it a 'backdoor conversion of Hindu students'. The school management subsequently terminated the teacher following the controversy.
What Happened
According to reports, the task was assigned in the student's school diary, with photographs of the entry circulating widely on social media. Upon discovering the assignment, the child's parents confronted the school management, expressing anger over what they described as an attempt to have a non-Muslim child memorise Islamic religious texts — specifically Surah Al-Fatiha from the Quran and the Kalma. The school responded by dismissing the teacher involved.
BJP's Demand for Probe
BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas described the incident as 'backdoor conversion of Hindu students', questioning the school's conduct. 'A private educational institute in Saidabad asked a non-Muslim student to memorise the Holy Quran's Surah Al-Fatiha and the Kalma. I really wonder what is going on in Hyderabad. Are we trying to turn a blind eye to this conversion?' he said.
Sriniwas also directed pointed questions at Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, asking: 'What is the Chief Minister of Telangana doing? Is this the definition of secularism here — trying to convert Hindu students, trying to convert non-Muslim students?' He demanded an inquiry by the Police Commissioner and called on the Education Chief Secretary and Education Minister to issue a public statement, alleging a 'covert agenda' at play.
BJP spokesperson Mahesh Naamani called the incident 'not fair for the students because it is a breach of trust on the part of the school', adding that students 'should not be exposed to religious issues in an academic environment'. He also demanded strict action against those responsible within the school management and cautioned the Indian National Congress (Congress) and its INDIA bloc allies against 'vote bank politics' over the matter.
Hindu Seers Condemn the Incident
Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das alleged that 'radical elements in Hyderabad are trying to convert Hindu children to Islam', claiming their objective is to 'increase the Muslim population in India' by asking children to write in Urdu, recite the Kalma, and memorise it. Seer Sitaram Das termed the episode a 'conspiracy to convert Sanatani children', calling it 'extremely condemnable' and warning that 'such incidents won't be tolerated.'
Broader Context
The incident comes at a time of heightened sensitivity around religious practices in educational institutions across India. Allegations of proselytisation in private schools — from multiple religious directions — have periodically sparked political controversy. This case has drawn particular attention given that the affected student was in Class 2, raising concerns among parents about age-appropriate boundaries in academic settings. Notably, the school's decision to terminate the teacher has not yet fully defused the political fallout, with opposition demands for a formal government inquiry still pending as of Thursday evening.
Point of View
Yet it has done little to contain the political fallout. What the BJP's response reveals is less about this isolated incident and more about a broader electoral strategy of framing private-school conduct as a proxy for minority appeasement. The harder question — how religious content finds its way into a Class 2 homework diary in the first place — points to a systemic gap in curriculum oversight in private schools, a gap that cuts across religious lines and demands regulatory attention rather than political theatre.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Hyderabad Kalma school incident?
A Class 2 student at a private school in Hyderabad's Saidabad area was reportedly assigned a homework task to recite the Kalma, an Islamic declaration of faith. Photographs of the school diary entry circulated on social media, prompting parental complaints and the subsequent dismissal of the teacher by school management.
What action did the school take after the controversy?
The school management terminated the services of the teacher who assigned the task, according to reports. However, BJP leaders have demanded a further formal investigation by the Police Commissioner and statements from state education authorities.
What has the BJP demanded over the Hyderabad school incident?
BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas has demanded a thorough investigation by the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and called on the Telangana Education Minister and Education Chief Secretary to issue public statements. The party has also questioned Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's response and alleged a 'covert agenda' by the Congress.
Who are the Hindu religious leaders who condemned the incident?
Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das alleged the incident was part of a broader effort to convert Hindu children in Hyderabad. Seer Sitaram Das called it a 'conspiracy to convert Sanatani children' and described it as 'extremely condemnable'.
Is this the first such controversy involving religious content in Indian schools?
No. Allegations of religious content being introduced inappropriately in private school settings have surfaced periodically across India, involving multiple faiths. This case has drawn heightened attention because the student was in Class 2 and the task was formally assigned as homework, raising questions about curriculum oversight in private institutions.
