The Education Minister of Rajasthan must clarify the order on “Shaurya Diwas” himself
After PUCL Rajasthan published the above press notes on the basis of news published in the major newspapers, there was a press note from the Director of Secondary Education that he had not issued such a press note. Following this, PUCL Rajasthan immediately released this.
Contradictory statements by the Minister’s PA and the Director of Secondary Education, Rajasthan
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Rajasthan, considers suspicious the statement issued by Director Sitaram Jat denying as baseless the news published today in all major newspapers of Rajasthan and nationally, regarding the celebration of Shaurya Diwas on 6 December, purportedly issued by the State’s Director of School Education. This appears to be a clear attempt to conceal the suppressed intentions of the government.
It is impossible and absurd that newspapers across the state would publish news attributed to the State Government without any basis.
This news was sent to newspapers by Pratap Tomar, the Personal Assistant to the Education Minister, on the night of 29 November at 9:38 pm through a WhatsApp group. Today, around 9:30 am on 30 November, he stated that the late-night order was being withdrawn due to ongoing school examinations.
It is therefore evident that two authorised persons of the same department are giving different versions.
PUCL demands that the Education Minister personally take cognizance of the matter and clarify the situation, and that action be taken against the responsible official.
PUCL fears that the publication of such misleading news may lead to the organisation of communal programmes in schools at a private level.
PUCL demands that the Education Minister himself issue a statement clearly affirming that the government has no plan—either this year or in the future—to conduct such programmes.
PUCL has also stated that the directive mentioned activities such as: speeches and essay competitions on the glory of Indian culture and the Shri Ram Mandir movement; painting and poster-making on the theme of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya; patriotic songs; folk dances; and staging short plays based on India’s warriors or mythological events. It also proposed exhibitions of pictures, articles and artworks related to the construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Incorporating programmes of any particular religion into school education is condemnable. Educational institutions must be kept away from glorifying symbols of communal intolerance, and even the proposal of such a programme is a violation of the constitutional responsibilities of the Education Department.
Bhanwar Meghwanshi, President, PUCL Rajasthan
Dr. Anant Bhatnagar, General Secretary, PUCL Rajasthan