CM slams opposition to Gayatri Mantra in schools

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The Opposition has developed a habit of criticising every decision of the state government. Teaching children moral values is necessary to make them understand what is right and what is wrong.

MANOHAR LAL KHATTAR , Haryana CM

CHANDIGARH: HA RYAN A chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit back at the critics of his government’s decision to include ‘Gayatri Mantra’ in morning prayers in government schools, stressing the significance of “moral values” to make children responsible citizens.

The Gayatri Mantra is a hymn from an ancient Hindu scripture Rigveda and Hindus particularly chant this sacred mantra to invoke the Sun for well-being.

“The 3-Rs — Reading, Writing and Arithmetic — may be vital but are not enough. Moral values too must be inculcated in children to make them grow as responsible citizens and become an asset to the society,” Khattar said in Panchkula after inaugurating three projects of around ₹84 crore.

A government spokesperson said: “Khattar has taken strong exception to the remarks made by the opposition on the decision to include ‘Gayatri Mantra’ in the morning prayers in government schools…”

Slamming the Opposition for what he said was “...habit of criticising every decision of the state government,” Khattar said teaching children moral values is necessary to make them understand what is right and what is wrong, what is just and what is unjust.

He also underlined the significance of moral values in curbing the tendency to commit crime in the society. Besides introduction of new courses, biographies of great personalities who sacrificed their lives for the country should also be taught to children so that they could draw inspiration from their lives, he said.

“The sacred book of Gita, Panchatantra and ancient short stories are a rich source of knowledge and wisdom,” he said.

According to education minister Ram Bilas Sharma the decision was taken after a meeting with school principals, teachers and other stakeholders last week.

The state government is likely to issue a notification on Tuesday to introduce the chanting of Gayatri Mantra in school prayers across the state. The opposition has flayed the decision, asking the government to focus on real issues.

‘OPPN MUST NOT HOLD AGITATION ON SYL’

Saying the he had full faith in the Supreme Court, Khattar urged opposition parties to exercise restraint and not to hold any agitation on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue.

“I have full faith in the Supreme Court and the state would soon get its due share of water through the SYL. The Supreme Court had given its decision in favour of Haryana. Now the execution order is to be passed by the apex court,” the CM added.

He said, “The Presidential reference had been lying pending in the Supreme Court for more than 10 years. It is the present state government that strongly pleaded the case in the SC and ensured regular hearing. As a result of this, the apex court has given its decision in the favour of Haryana.”

“When the present government has already announced that student union elections would be held in the next academic session, agitation by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on this issue is neither called for nor justifiable. Once consensus has been reached on any matter, petty politics should not be resorted to,” he said.

He also said that Anganwadi workers and helpers should call off their agitation in public interest.