Bengal defies Centre’s I-Day directive, state BJP hits back
CONFLICT State issues notice against Centre’s directive on format of celebrations carried out
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 has directly 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. The state government 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.
In the counter- circular issued by state school education department, (a copy of which is available with HT), district project officers of SSM, have been asked to immediately instruct all schools and educational institutions to stop all preparations for celebration according to the Union government’s directives.
“It has been decided by the state school education department that Independence Day 2017 will not be celebrated in this manner,” the state government circular has read.
State education minister, Partha Chaterjee said that 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 here this year in the same manner it is celebrated every year,” he said.
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.
“The chief minister feels that this is yet another attempt by Union government to step is state government’s authority and is against the federal structure of India. She feels that Union government cannot dictate how schools of the state will celebrate Independence Day, since individual state governments are quite conscious of the importance of Independence Day and how it should be celebrated,” the state cabinet member said.
When contacted, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh told HT that in the name of opposing the Centre and the Prime Minister, the state government is resorting to anti- national activities including directing school not to celebrate Independence Day.
“Is West Bengal out of India? The Union government provides a major portion of funds under SSM and hence it has the right to enquire whether the funds are utilized properly or not,” Ghosh said.