West Bengal’s CM warned schools about financial aid cuts for not singing Vande Mataram.
They gave time to the Congress after Independence, gave sufficient opportunities to the subsequent United Front and Left Front governments, and for the last 15 years they had given time to the TMC,” he said.
Addressing the annual programme of Vivekananda Vidya Bharati Vikas Parishad, an RSS-affiliated organisation, at Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkata’s Golpark, Adhikari alleged that the state’s education system had been “brought to the brink of destruction” under successive governments in the past. He said the current BJP dispensation was carrying out reforms to restore Indian culture, traditions and nationalist values in school education. I told them that government aid would stop. Then I told them that lips must move as well,” the CM said, sporting a smile. He said words such as ‘maa’, ‘jal’ and ‘akash’ in school curricula were deliberately replaced with ‘amma’, ‘pani’ and ‘asmaan’, respectively. He said the “subtle changes” were in contrast to the pedagogic ideas of stalwarts like Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda. “I met defence minister Rajnath Singh recently and made two requests: First, I urged him to build more Sainik Schools in the state, and second, I told him I will write to him seeking permission to make NCC mandatory in schools and colleges. I have already sent him that letter and received his assurance to do the needful,” the CM said.
“A few people had objected to singing the complete rendition of Vande Mataram. Then they budged, but only partially. They stood up, but did not move lips. “The people of West Bengal provide time when it comes to change and giving opportunities.
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday warned schools that financial aid and other government support would be stopped if the mandatory singing of the full version of Vande Mataram during school prayers was not strictly followed.