New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party today attacked Union minister Mahesh Sharma over his "irresponsible" remarks that lessons from the epic, Mahabharata and the holy book, Gita may soon be taught in schools and colleges, alleging it was being done at the behest of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the BJP.
"How can a minister give such an irresponsible statement? Today, they have said lessons should be taught from the 'Gita' and the 'Mahabharata'. Tomorrow, there will be a demand to teach lessons from 'Quran', 'Bible' and 'Granth Sahib'. What type of country do we want to create? This is against the basic principles of our Constitution," said Sanjay Singh, senior leader of AAP.
Last week, union minister of state for Culture, Mahesh Sharma had said that lessons from 'Mahabharata', 'Ramayana' and 'Gita' may soon be taught in schools and colleges as part of the BJP led National Development Alliance government's plan to free the country of "cultural pollution" and inculcate values among young minds.
According to Mr Sharma, the ministries of Culture and Human Resource Development are working on a plan to teach students about India's cultural values, following detailed deliberations at a meeting of Education and Culture Ministers of BJP-ruled states and the Centre, besides the RSS and its affiliates.
AAP, the ruling party in Delhi has blamed the BJP for resorting to such tactics to deviate attention from core issues.
Mr Singh said, "Union Minister Rajnath Singh said in his statement that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have no qualms in saying that they have an affiliation with the RSS. The BJP does not want discussion on price rise, unemployment and corruption. The ministers speak what is taught in school of the RSS."
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the BJP.
"How can a minister give such an irresponsible statement? Today, they have said lessons should be taught from the 'Gita' and the 'Mahabharata'. Tomorrow, there will be a demand to teach lessons from 'Quran', 'Bible' and 'Granth Sahib'. What type of country do we want to create? This is against the basic principles of our Constitution," said Sanjay Singh, senior leader of AAP.
According to Mr Sharma, the ministries of Culture and Human Resource Development are working on a plan to teach students about India's cultural values, following detailed deliberations at a meeting of Education and Culture Ministers of BJP-ruled states and the Centre, besides the RSS and its affiliates.
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Mr Singh said, "Union Minister Rajnath Singh said in his statement that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have no qualms in saying that they have an affiliation with the RSS. The BJP does not want discussion on price rise, unemployment and corruption. The ministers speak what is taught in school of the RSS."
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