In a troubling incident that seems to be based on religious discrimination, a school called Shri K.T. Patel Smriti Vidyalaya, located in Nanakda town of Gujarat's Kheda district, refused to recognize and honor a talented student named Arnaz Banu, simply because she is Muslim.

Arnaz Banu had achieved the highest marks in Class X with a score of 87%. Naturally, she was excited and looking forward to being acknowledged during a special event organized by her school to celebrate the achievements of exceptional Class X and Class XII students on Independence Day. However, her expectations were dashed.

This incident, which appears to be intentionally unfair, has sparked outrage among activists and citizens on social media platforms. Writer and rights activist Salil Tripathi tweeted, "This is the state of Modified India." He went on to explain that a Muslim girl who was the top student in her class was not named during the prize ceremony, where only the second-place winners were recognized. Arnaz Banu wanted recognition for her hard work, but the school denied her that.

Arnaz Banu reportedly returned home in tears. Her father, Sanwar Khan, who lives in Lunava village, expressed his distress over the situation. He questioned why his daughter's award was given to a student who came in second place. He tried to get answers from the school authorities, but their explanations were unclear. Sanwar Khan, who comes from a family with a long history in the area, mentioned that they have never faced discrimination before. He said, "My daughter has been unfairly denied an award she rightfully earned."

Bipin Patel, the principal of Shri K.T. Patel Smriti Vidyalaya, explained that the school has a strict policy against discrimination. He assured that Arnaz Banu will receive her award on January 26th, but he noted that she was absent on the original day of the event, which affected the presentation.

However, Sanwar Khan disputes this claim. He said, "My daughter did go to school on that day. The school has security cameras that can prove this."

Anil Patel, a teacher at the school, clarified that the August 15th event was a small celebration to recognize students' achievements. He assured that all deserving students, including those with exceptional talents, will receive their awards on January 26th. He emphasized the school's commitment to addressing any concerns and acknowledging the efforts of all students.