Samajwadi Party MLA Raees Shaikh brought the matter to light and expressed his displeasure in a letter sent to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar. Emphasising respect for all religions, Shaikh argued that associating religion with education contradicts Article 28 (1) and (3) of the Indian Constitution.
Team Clarion
NAGPUR — A recent directive from Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Member of the Maharashtra Assembly, has ignited a contentious debate. Lodha reportedly instructed Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, to organise cultural competitions in municipal schools in the name of Hidu deity Ram. Dated November 15, the directive mandates all Municipal Corporations of Mumbai to conduct various cultural competitions, encompassing essay writing, painting, and poetry, from January 1 to January 15 in the upcoming new year.
This announcement follows past controversies, including debates over compulsory practices like Surya Namaskar and Vande Mataram in educational institutions. The Urdu newspaper ‘Aurangabad Times’ reported that Mumbai School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar claimed ignorance when questioned about the matter over the phone. In contrast, Chief Minister Lodha stated on Tuesday that organising cultural competitions in schools under the banner of Lord Ram should not be objectionable.
However, the newspaper also reported strong opposition from Samajwadi Party MLA Raees Shaikh, who brought the matter to light. Shaikh expressed his displeasure in a letter sent to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar. Emphasising respect for all religions, Shaikh argued that associating religion with education contradicts Article 28 (1) and (3) of the Indian Constitution.
Shaikh referred to past instances where attempts were made to make Surya Namaskar and Vande Mataram compulsory in schools, highlighting that such proposals were rejected. He underscored the diverse religious backgrounds of students in municipal schools, urging authorities to consider earlier decisions made by the BMC.
In his letter, Shaikh called for a halt to what he termed a “saffron move” and requested Chief Minister Shinde’s intervention. He urged the Chief Minister to direct Minister of State Bhat Odha to withdraw the directive, emphasising the importance of upholding the principle of keeping religion separate from the education system.
The controversy brings attention to the ongoing debate over the role of religion in educational institutions, prompting questions about the delicate balance between cultural expression and constitutional principles in the state of Maharashtra.
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File photo used for ilistrative purposes
