Child expelled for bringing non-vegetarian biryani in Indian school

NEW DELHI:

A school in northern India has reportedly expelled a young student for bringing non-vegetarian biryani, sparking an official investigation after the incident gained widespread attention on social media.

Authorities in Amroha district have formed a three-member investigation committee to look into the matter. "A three-member investigation committee has been constituted by the District School Inspector to investigate and take action on the viral video," local police said in response to public outcry.

The controversy began after a video surfaced showing a confrontation between the school principal and the child’s mother. In the footage, the principal can allegedly be heard saying, "Your child says that he wants to convert everyone to Islam by making them eat non-vegetarian food."

The child, believed to be between 5 and 7 years old, brought biryani, a popular non-vegetarian dish among Muslims, which reportedly led to the expulsion.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and activists, who denounced rising intolerance towards minorities in India.

Congress party leader Mohammad Shamim Khan condemned the event, writing on X, "This is happening because of the hatred spread in society. If people had openly opposed this hate, it wouldn’t have escalated."

The school principal, however, denied the allegations, stating that the child had damaged a temple on school grounds and offered biryani to classmates, which upset other parents. "I called a parent-teacher meeting, but his mother accused me instead," the principal told The Indian Express.

The third-grade student was reportedly expelled on Wednesday.