Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule, on 28 May, accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of trying to “promote” its “ideology” through education by using images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on books recommended for supplementary reading in schools.
Waving a book titled ‘Chacha Chaudhary and Narendra Modi’ at a press conference, Sule said, “I am happy that through these books the message of cleanliness is given to the students, however, what was the need to use PM Modi’s large pictures on these books?”
Sule said photos of Sant Gadgebaba, a 19th century mendicant-saint and social reformer from Maharashtra, or Mahatma Gandhi, who spread the message about cleanliness, should have been used on these books instead of those of Modi.
The Maharashtra government had reportedly taken a decision to buy books worth Rs 59.42 lakh under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) as a supplementary reading material for students which include the books on Chacha Choudhary and Modi series that can be read by the students in leisure time.
“It is unfortunate that the government is trying to promote itself using education as a mean. Education should not be used for political gains but the government is doing it by bringing marketing into the education,” she said.
Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said no political party had tried to promote its ideology through education in the past, “but this government is doing this which is unfortunate”.
The Baramati MP also sought clarification from state Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the government’s decision to close down 1,300 schools run by Zilla Parishads across the state.
