‘Burqa dance’ video goes viral, UP school sealed over lack of recognition

A video of teenage girls performing a dance while wearing burqas, which emerged online following an Independence Day event at a school in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district, has sparked controversy. The education department of the region subsequently sealed the premises, alleging that the institution did not possess the necessary recognition from the department.

The school in question provides education up to the fifth grade. The video, which surfaced on Sunday, depicted four young girls in burqas dancing to Bollywood and Bhojpuri tunes.

School manager Ram Suresh Maurya expressed his surprise upon learning of the incident, stating that the school had only started functioning this academic year and that the girls seen in the video were not affiliated with any minority group. He abruptly ended the call upon speaking with The Indian Express. Riyaz Ahmed, the Gonda Block Education Officer, confirmed that the school was closed as it was operating without the required recognition from the Basic Shiksha Adhikari's office.

Upon inspecting the school, he found only a few individuals present on its six-room campus. Ahmed instructed the nearby school authorities to admit the students from this institution to prevent any disruption in their education. He had previously visited the school earlier this month, but classes had already concluded, and only a few students and a teacher were present at the time.

Ahmed demanded to see the recognition documents from the school manager, who informed him that the recognition was still pending. He advised the parents of the students to enrol their children in another school that had the necessary recognition.