Modi an illiterate & a boor, says Cong neta, sparks row

| TNN | Sep 13, 2018, 06:16 IST
MUMBAI: Congress president Sanjay Nirupam found himself in the eye of a Twitter storm on Wednesday for calling PM Narendra Modi “anpadh ganvar” —roughly translated as illiterate and uncivilised — over reports that the education department had asked schools to screen a documentary based on the Prime Minister’s childhood. While the Maharashtra education department has denied issuing any such diktat, teachers said that local department officials had sent the instruction on their WhatsApp groups.

“As Modi is illiterate and uncivilised, it will be wrong to introduce a film or a book on him in the school curriculum,” said Nirupam. Political parties declined to comment on the remark. BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said there was no need for the party to take cognisance of the remark. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik, too, refused to comment but both said it was wrong to introduce either a film or book on Modi in schools.

The message being circulated states that zilla parishad schools must screen the 32-minute short film, ‘Chalo Jeete Hain’, based on Modi’s life, on September 18 between 10am and 3pm. Also, schools must have internet connectivity with a speed of 1 MBPS and a projector for the screening.

Schools were given a web link for the film. It was screened at M C Balayogi Auditorium by vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu in July. Several principals said they received the messages from education officials. “Such instructions did not come through a circular but only WhatsApp groups. We do not have an issue screening the documentary, constant instructions disrupt our academic schedule. Also, there is no need to use schools in a political context,” said a teacher from Ahmednagar. “Many zilla parishad schools do not even have the infrastructure.”

Education department officials confirmed the issue was discussed but no instructions were issued. “Zilla parishad schools also receive instructions from other departments. So we are looking into it but the education department hasn’t issued any,” said education commissioner Vishal Solanki.

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