The CPI(M) on Wednesday accused the Centre of trying to “indoctrinate young minds” by pressurising schools to ensure students listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Teachers’ Day. Terming the move as “unprecedented”, the party in a statement here said the RSS-BJP was setting their agenda in the field of education.
“Such instructions have never been issued in independent India even for the mandatory addresses to the nation by the President and the Prime Minister. Such instructions were also never given for the Prime Minister’s Independence day address from the Red Fort,” the party’s politburo said in the statement. “Clearly, the RSS-BJP seeks to use this occasion for the indoctrination of the young minds, instead of them being exposed to all ideas and, thus, preparing them to make informed choices in their lives,” it said.
The CPI(M) accused the government of forcing the school administration and principals for the success of this programme.
“The HRD Minister has subsequently clarified that such instructions were not compulsory for the schools to follow. However, it nevertheless pressurizes the school administration and principals to follow. This is so because most schools in the country are either Government schools or government- aided schools,” the CPI(M) maintained.