File picture of PM Modi (PTI)
For school students across the country, September 5 or Teacher's Day this year is set to be an all out Modi affair. In a first of its kind move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not just address the students but also interact with them from the Manekshaw Stadium in Delhi.
All government and private schools in the country have not only been asked to participate in the programme that will webcast live, but also to give attendance reports.
However, to hear the Prime Minister's pep talk at 3 pm, the students will have to stay back after school hours, a move that has already garnered criticism from the opposition.
"If PM wants to subject hapless school kids to his" pearls of wisdom" why doesn't he alter his speech time than coerce change in school hrs (sic)," Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted.
Vinod Tawde, Opposition leader in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, however welcomed the move, saying, "If the PM is speaking to students of the country where is the PR in it? He is not speaking as a party member. He is speaking as a PM. This should be welcomed. How much does it cost to set up a TV? This should be welcomed and no one should play politics on it."
Meanwhile, following the Centre's directive, sources in the Maharashtra government say, it has sent circulars to schools to make arrangements for the mega exercise. It has also advised borrowing television sets from the principal or the management committee members of the school since there is no clarity on who will pay the rental expense.
Sources in the Maharashtra education department say the Centre has been following up on logistics and preparations.