Row erupts after exam paper of popular Chennai school terms protesting farmers ‘violent maniacs’

A popular CBSE school in Chennai landed in controversy after a question paper termed the farmers who protested against the farm laws during the Republic Day tractor rally as “miscreants” and “violent maniacs.”

The phrase was used in a politically charged question in a Class 10 exam paper and was framed in ‘letter to an editor’ format, as part of the English Language and Literature paper in the second revision exams held at DAV Boys school, News Minute reported on Friday.

The exam was held on February 11.

Part of Section B in the exam paper, the question read: “The diabolical violence that broke out in the national capital on Republic Day filled the hearts of the citizens with condemnation and abhorrence after the farm law protesters went on a rampage destroying public property and attacking police personnel in broad daylight. Write a letter to the Editor of a daily newspaper in your city, condemning such terrible, violent acts of miscreants who fail to realise that country comes before personal needs and gains. Destroying public property, disgracing the national flag, and attacking police personnel are few of the various illegal offences committed, that can never be justified for any reason whatsoever.”

The question further asked students to “suggest a few measures to thwart such violent maniacs who act under external instigation.”

Musician TM Krishna has tweeted on the controversial question paper, triggering social media backlash.

“This is a sample from a Class X English paper of a popular Chennai school. The incident and the much larger farm bills issue is still being discussed but here this is being said ‘violent maniacs under external instigation’,” said TM Krishna in his tweet.

The photos of the question paper have since been widely circulated on social media and the school has received flak for the controversial question.