MP’s saffron agenda push through quiz draws flak

BHOPAL: An attempt by the ruling BJP’s youthwing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), to further the saffron agenda through an international quiz competition in schools and colleges across Madhya Pradesh has met with criticism from the opposition Congress and educationists.

Titled ‘Mere Deendayal’ after Deendayal Upadhyaya, founder of BJP’s progenitor Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the quiz seeks to raise awareness about him (50%) and the schemes of the BJP helmed state government (30%) and Centre (20%). While the competition is not compulsory, BJYM is pushing to get 30 lakh students to participate, and has asked government teachers and professors to extend support.

Congress and educationists have raised their voice against it, citing politicisation of education although the organisers said it would help students learn about Upadhyaya and the governments’ schemes.

“We are not providing any aid to them. The quiz competition is a motivational thing for students and there is nothing wrong in informing students about beneficial schemes,” minister of state for school education and technical education Deepak Joshi said.

Noting that till now, the government was using students for increasing crowd in their programmes, Kunal Chaudhary, president of MP Youth Congress, said now, “they have started mis- guiding students by asking them to learn about BJP and its leaders”.

Educationist Zamiruddin questioned why they were mixing politics and education, and reasoned that it could be because they want to change the students’ mindset. “It is very dangerous for the future of students. Are they afraid of their failure of providing good education and infrastructure to students?” he asked.

However, BJYM state president Abhilash Pandey said the quiz would help students learn about “a leader whose thoughts are relevant in the 21st century” and about schemes of the state and the Centre that are beneficial to them. “BJP has done so many good things. So we can ask the students about it, but Congress never did anything remarkable except criticising others’ work. So it is obvious that they would raise questions,” he said.

The organisers are charging ₹10 per participant.

TITLED ‘MERE DEENDAYAL’ , THE QUIZ SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HIM AND SCHEMES OF THE BJPHELMED STATE GOVT AND CENTRE