UP school kids made to take pledge for 'Hindu Rashtra'

Sonbhadra: School children in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district were reportedly made to take a pledge to make India a 'Hindu Rashtra'. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, creating a fresh controversy.

The children, dressed in their school uniforms, had gathered in the park after school hours. Some kids visiting the park with their parents, were also part of the oath-taking event. The students were made to repeat the pledge to make India a Hindu nation. The oath stated to "fight, die and if required kill" to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra.

The oath was administered to school children at Nehru Park in Sonbhadra district and ended with slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Vande Mataram" and "Jai Hind."

The pledge stated: "We promise to work towards making and keeping India a Hindu Rashtra. We will fight for this, die for this, and if required, kill for this. But we will not back down even for a moment, no matter the sacrifice. May our ancestors, teachers, Mother India give us enough strength so that we can fulfil our pledge. May they give us victory." Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asked people here to seek an answer from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for the firing on kar sevaks' during his party's government in the past and asked why Lord Ram had to "stay in a tent" for years.

He was referring to the makeshift temple on the site, which was disputed in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case.