A Shiv Sena leader has expressed regret over his party’s student wing trying to remove a nun’s veil in Pune as they protested a Catholic school’s admission process December first week.

Sena MP Gajanan Babar said he regretted the behavior of the members of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS) with the principal of Alphonsa School in Kalewadi on Dec. 5.

However, Babar said he was not sorry for the protest.

Some 20 BVS members barged into the school and manhandled manager Father Benny and principal Sister Mary making allegations over student admission to the school.

“The sainiks were protesting against denial of admissions to local students and interviews being held against state government norms.

“But it seems some members tried to remove the headgear of the nun. This is regrettable. It should not have happened. The headgear has religious significance,” the Indian Express daily quoted him.

Babar said the school authorities have filed police complaints and BVS members are ready to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Association of Poona dismissed the protest as baseless as the school’s nearly 2,000 students are locals, who come from nearby areas.

Association president Diago Almeida said the protest is for personal gains of some leaders and not for any common goal.

Syro-Malabar Bishop Thomas Elavanal of Kalyan, under whom the school functions, visited the school on Dec. 6. He condemned the violence and demanded action.

The police have reportedly arrested four BVS, including a woman, in the case. They were charged of rioting and not seeking police permission to register their protest inside the school.

Source:  Sena leader regrets attack on nun (expressindia.com)

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