“What’s wrong” with saffron?: B Bommai defends new color code in schools

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday defended the government’s move to saffron paint thousands of school classrooms to be built under the newly launched ‘Viveka’ scheme.

Under the ‘Viveka’ scheme, named after Swami Vivekananda, the Karnataka government has proposed to construct 7,601 classrooms across the state.

Mr. Bommai launched the scheme on Children’s Day by laying the foundation stone of Government Upper Primary School at Madiyal in Kalaburagi district.

Asked to comment on the move to paint such classrooms saffron, which has sparked controversy, the chief minister said: “What’s wrong with having saffron colour? The (national) tricolor has saffron colour. Swami Vivekananda himself used to wear saffron clothes. ,

“They (Congress) are not interested in comprehensive development of education,” alleged Bommai.

He said that any progressive change made has a tendency to create controversy.

“The naming of schools after Swami Vivekananda will help children take inspiration from him and create a good atmosphere in the schools,” the chief minister said.

School Education Minister BC Nagesh said that if the architects recommend to the government that saffron color is acceptable in such classrooms, it will be done.

Nagesh said, “We have left the decision to the architect. The government does not decide what kind of paint, windows, doors and stairs to be made. We will take a call on what they (architects) say.”

“Some people are allergic to (saffron) colour,” he said.

Hitting out at the Congress, the minister said: “I want to ask them, their (party) flag has saffron colour. Why did you keep it? Remove it,” Mr Nagesh said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)