Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address school students on Teachers Day (PTI)
Accusing the RSS-BJP of trying to "indoctrinate young minds", the CPI(M) today said the government's directive to schools to ensure students listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Teachers Day was "unprecedented" and wanted it to be rescinded immediately.
"Such an instruction has never been issued in independent India even for the mandatory Addresses to the Nation by the Hon'ble President and the Prime Minister. Such an instruction is also never given for the Prime Minister's Independence Day Address from the Red Fort," the party Politburo said.
"Clearly, the RSS-BJP seeks to use this occasion for the indoctrination of the young minds, instead of them being exposed to all ideas and, thus, preparing them to make informed choices in their lives," it said in a statement.
Though the HRD Minister has clarified that the instruction was not mandatory for schools to follow, it "nevertheless pressurises the school administration and principals to follow. This is so because most schools in the country are either government schools or government subsidised aided schools," it said.
Some state governments have already objected to the move which was "violative of the federal structure". States are responsible for primary education though it was placed under the Concurrent List in 1976 during internal Emergency," it CPI(M) said.
Noting that Teachers Day was annually observed to honour the best teachers on the birthday of one of India's illustrious philosophers and educationists, Dr S Radhakrishnan, the party protested the government's move and demanded that the government immediately rescind it.