Jaipur: The Congress in Rajasthan has expressed strong disapproval of the BJP-led state government’s decision to include the celebration of the revocation of Article 370 in the academic calendar, labeling it a politicization of education to serve partisan interests.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Rajasthan Education Department has announced the 2024-25 academic calendar, which introduces new commemorative dates in both government and private schools. Notably, the calendar marks August 5, the date of the revocation of Article 370, as ‘Swarna Mukut Mastak Diwas’ and includes the birthday of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar on May 28. This inclusion has ignited considerable controversy and backlash.
Govind Singh Dotasra, the state president of Congress, criticized the government’s action as a blatant imposition of its political ideology. “Congress opposes this politicization of education and the imposition of a divisive ideology on students,” Dotasra commented, condemning the directive.
Adding to the critique, Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi attacked the new calendar as a move to infuse Hindutva ideology into educational content. Chaturvedi specifically targeted the school education minister’s priorities, stating, “Instead of prioritizing education, the minister is intent on teaching students about Savarkar, who apologized to the British rather than fighting against them.” This criticism underscores the Congress party’s concern over the use of educational initiatives to promote particular political narratives in Rajasthan.