Saffronisation of education will happen if it helps India: Smriti Irani’s deputy | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Saffronisation of education will happen if it helps India: Smriti Irani’s deputy

ByAgencies, Lucknow
Jun 20, 2016 11:16 AM IST

In a statement that could stir up another hornet’s nest, Union Minister Ramshankar Katheria has said there “will be saffronisation of education and the country” if it is “good” for the nation.

Ramshankar Katheria, the junior minister in Smriti Irani’s HRD ministry, has said saffronisation of education as well as India will take place if it is good for the country.

Minister of State for Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ramshankar Katheria has said there is no problem with saffronisation of education if it is for the nation’s benefit.
Minister of State for Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ramshankar Katheria has said there is no problem with saffronisation of education if it is for the nation’s benefit.

The Union minister of state for human resource development made the controversial comments while addressing a function at the Lucknow University on Sunday to celebrate ‘Hindvi Swaraj Diwas Samaroh’ to mark the 342nd coronation year of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“ ... shiksha me bhi bhagwakaran aur desh me bhi bhagwakaran hoga. Jo desh ke liye accha hoga wo hoga. Chahe wo bhagwakaran ho ya sanghwaad ho (I am saying there will be saffronisation in education and in the country. Whatever is good will definitely take place. Be it saffronisation or ‘sanghwad’, if it’s good for the country then it will definitely take place),” he said.

His can also be seen as a move to polarise voters in the poll-bound state.

“It is for the benefit of the country and whatever is good for the country... Call it ‘bhagwakaran’ (saffronisation) or ‘sanghwad’ if you will, but it will be done,” he said.

“We have been seeing this for a long time... Whatever is in the interest of the country, for the benefit of the country, on the basis of which the nation can stand with pride in the world, should it not be made part of the syllabus or should it not been taught to our children,” he said.

“If students do not read about Maharana Pratap or Shivaji, will they then read about Ghengis Khan?” he asked.

He said people like Shivaji inspired India’s independence. The minister also claimed that India’s history had been “tailored” to suit the “tastes of a few people” and called it “India’s greatest misfortune”.

He called seeing “sacrifices of national leaders” in a political light, “a growing disease” in the country.

“[BR] Ambedkar is seen as the personal property of one party, or of Dalits. In fact, Ambedkar is not just an ideal leader and nationalist for the country, but for the entire world,” he said.

Remembering the contributions made by several stalwarts in the freedom struggle, Katheria said they lived their lives for humanity and welfare of the nation.

He also took the opportunity to blame the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh for the state’s “educational backwardness”.

Katheria’s remarks came even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has cautioned its leaders from making controversial statements as these deflect from the “development agenda” of the Modi government.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On