CTET jewellery row: Hindu outfit protests removal of mangalsutras in Sambhajinagar, seeks FIRs against officials

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on Tuesday objected to officials asking Central Teacher Eligibility Test aspirants to remove their jewellery, including mangalsutras, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Sunday. The Hindu outfit alleged the action had hurt religious sentiments and humiliated Hindu women. The outfit also demanded criminal action against officials responsible for enforcing the measure at examination centres.The issue pertains to the CTET conducted on Sunday, where candidates were allegedly asked to remove jewellery, including mangalsutras, as part of security checks. The issue was first raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) politician and former leader of the opposition Ambadas Danve on Sunday. He questioned the BJP-led govt for the incident.On Tuesday, in a representation submitted to the district administration, members of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) said forcing women to remove not only jewellery but also mangalsutra, considered a sacred symbol of marital status among Hindus, during a national-level examination was "inhuman treatment" and showed disrespect towards the faith. The organisation urged the administration to register FIRs against the govt officials deployed at the centres.Condemning the move, HJS staged a protest outside the district collectorate on Tuesday, raising slogans, and submitting a detailed memorandum to the collector.Addressing the protesters, HJS coordinator Priyanka Lone said that touching the mangalsutra of Hindu women under the pretext of security checks reflected administrative high-handedness. She alleged discrimination, and cited Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.Protesters also raised concerns over women's safety, alleging that candidates were made to keep expensive jewellery outside the examination centres in the open.Among the demands submitted were the immediate suspension of the centre in-charge and staff found responsible, and the issuance of a clear circular allowing Hindu religious ornaments such as mangalsutras, toe rings, nose rings and bindis during examinations. The organisation warned of intensified public agitation if such incidents recurred in future.