The new government classroom scheme was launched today on the occasion of Children’s Day.
Bangalore:
The Karnataka government’s decision to paint classrooms in government schools saffron has sparked a major controversy in the state, with opposition parties accusing the ruling BJP of saffronising the education system. The BJP retorted that the school’s classrooms would be constructed in honor of Swami Vivekananda, who wore saffron, and hence the color was decided upon.
Viveka, the new government classroom scheme, was launched in Kalaburagi district, about 600 km from capital Bengaluru, on the occasion of Children’s Day today.
Under this scheme, the state government plans to construct around 8,000 classrooms in government schools across the state. However, it is the saffron color of the classes that has become the new flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the opposition.
Congress leader BK Hariprasad said, “Government schools and colleges are run by taxpayers’ money and the education minister has no business to limit it to one religion. He is trying to polarize and communalise education in the state which is not acceptable.”
BJP accuses opposition of doing ‘politics over everything’
“Our national flag has saffron colour. Why are they angry on saffron colour? The school buildings have been constructed in the name of Swami Vivekananda. Vivekananda was a monk. He wore saffron clothes. The word Vivek means for all There is knowledge. Let them learn,” said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh also said that the government has no role in this.
He said, “The state government does not get into things like the color of walls or windows. Such decisions are left to the architects. Architects have suggested that we have chosen the colour.”
The BJP leader said that the opposition is trying to politicize the issue as their voter base is being eroded due to overwhelming support to the BJP government. “They seem to be allergic to the color saffron. They oppose it wherever it is seen. I ask them why don’t you oppose the flag because it also has saffron in it? Why not plant it everywhere and remove the saffron,” he said.
This is the second time in months that the government has been accused of saffronising the education system. In June the government introduced a chapter On Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, by removing chapters from textbooks by eminent authors.
Despite allegations of disrespecting eminent litterateurs and historical figures, Mr. Bommai has made it clear that the government will not remove the lesson on Hedgewar.
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