A Karnataka Government order issued by the Department of Tourism asking all the Government schools to take OBC students for a tour of the State has come under severe criticism. The political parties blame this as one more gimmick ahead of 2014 general elections.
The Opposition BJP on Friday opposed the move saying the Congress Government resorted to dividing even students on communal lines. The party alleged that the Karnataka Government is dividing schoolchildren on caste and communal lines by organising study tours for students belonging to other backward classes and minority community only.
It further said the appeasing politics has reached an all-time high in the Congress Government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
BJP MlA, former Minister and party spokesperson S Suresh Kumar alleged that the Siddaramaiah Government was sowing seeds of caste and communalism among schoolchildren by identifying children on the basis of caste and community for study tours.
“On what grounds students from other castes and communities have been left out,” he asked, demanding immediate withdrawal of the order which he termed “anti-social”.
The order issued by the Tourism Department headed by Minister RV Deshpande was against the spirit of equality and principles of the Constitution, Suresh Kumar said.
“The Congress which preaches secularism should select students from all communities and castes for the tour,” he added.
The State Government issued an order on November 6 directing district authorities to organise the study tour —Karnataka Darshan — for students belonging to OBCs and minority community in Government schools.
About 9,000 students, 300 from each district, would be selected for the tour which would cost `3.15 crore to the State exchequer.
Senior Congress leader Janardhana Poojary also asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to discriminate among schoolchildren while sending them on excursions.
He said, “They are children of God and the Government should not discriminate among school kids while sending them to visit important tourist spots. I wish all Government schemes would be extended to children belonging to all communities and castes.”
He further said even the children belonging to other communities, including those from Brahmin families, who are in acute poverty should not be left out from any Government-sponsored schemes. “Discrimination in any form does not augur well for the health of the society,” he added.
KJP State president BS Yeddyurappa also slammed the Government’s move and termed it as “divisive in nature”.