MPUSA shows support for Punjab private schools’ strike call

Chandigarh, April 11, 2022. Senior office-bearers of Mohali Private Unaided Schools' Association (MPUSA) which comprises as many as 80 private schools spread across Mohali district, held a press conference at the press club here today. MPUSA is supporting the strike called by private schools all across Punjab today - April 11th, 2022. The press conference was held to explain the reasons for the strike by private schools in Punjab. The strike is the result of some arrests made in the case of sexual assault on a girl student of a private school in Gurdaspur district. MPUSA informed that the association condemned the heinous incident and said that it stood by the family of the little girl who had been sexually exploited. However, what it was against is the way police arrested the school's 70-year-old Chairman and also the Principal.

"The arrests by police seem to have been made to appease protesting parents and under political pressure. This was done without proper investigation and evidence. Nowhere in any preliminary investigation did it come that the school management was in any way responsible for the incident," Said  Mitul Dikshit, President, MPUSA.

" MPUSA abides by the responsibility of taking care of the safety of children and staff within the school campus, there can be no compromise on the safety of children within the school premises. However, we are against the victimization of the staff of the school when no evidence of culpability has been found by the police administration even after an investigation." Added Dikshit.

"Through this press conference we want to bring in front of you the fact that these days there is a trend of witch hunt adopted by administrations and police against school management, principals and staff, particularly of private schools. This is being done  without verification of facts and proper investigation by authorities." Said Sanjay Kumar, Vice President, MPUSA.

"MPUSA supports a detailed investigation and punishment of the person who has actually committed this abominable crime. It is against arrests made on the basis of hearsay," said  Col S P S Cheema(Retd.), Secretary, MPUSA.
"Our demand is that no action should be taken against the staff of the school till evidence emerges. We also want that action should be taken even against the government school principals when incidents of such nature are committed in the premises of the government schools. Why are only private school's targeted?" said Sandeep Gupta, Treasurer, MPUSA.

 Mitul Dikshit summed up saying, " A comprehensive policy on the safety of school students needs to be framed by the state government. The school management and principal have earned their reputation over decades and we demand that the pious relationship between students, parents and staff are not damaged by unproven allegations."