Bengal junks Centre order on how schools must celebrate I-Day
KOLKATA: Continuing confrontations between the Union and West Bengal governments have now taken an unprecedented shape with Independence Day celebrations in state’s schools becoming a subject of conflict.
The state government confronted an instruction from the department of school education under the Union ministry of human resource development (HRD) directing schools nationwide to follow a Centre-prescribed format for Independence Day celebrations this year. But West Bengal issued a counter- circular directing schools in the state to ignore the Union government’s directive in this regard.
In its circular, the HRD ministry directed all educational institutions to conduct quiz contests, lectures and debates among others. Schools were advised to submit videos of the celebrations to the office of Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) by August 31, 2017.
West Bengal school education department instructed district project officers of SSM to immediately instruct schools and educational institutions to stop all preparations for celebration according to the Centre’s directives.
Education minister Partha Chatterjee said the state is not bound to follow the Centre’s directive on this matter. “We do not need lessons of patriotism from BJP. Independence Day will be celebrated in the same manner it is celebrated every year.”
Another member of the state cabinet said on strict condition of anonymity that the counter- circular has been issued following an instruction from chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself.
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh told HT that the Mamata government was “resorting to anti- national activities”.