Communist Party of India (Marxist) has warned that military institutions influenced by Hindutva ideology could undermine the secular values upheld by the Indian armed forces.
Condemning the “communalizing of Sainik Schools,” CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, in response to a Reporters’ Collective report indicating that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government has facilitated the participation of private players in running Sainik Schools, expressed concern on Thursday. He stated that Hindutva-run military schools have the potential to undermine the high secular standards of the Indian forces.
According to the report, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliates, BJP leaders and other Hindutva groups, such as Sadhvi Rithambara have been chosen by the Ministry of Defence to run 60 per cent of new Sainik Schools.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the CPI(M) leader shared the link to the Reporters’ Collective report along with the party’s statement on the issue. “Stop communalising Sainik Schools. CPI(M) Polit Bureau condemns this move that is loaded with the potential to destroy the high secular standards of our military establishments,” the post read.
The statement said that the Sainik Schools have been traditionally run by the autonomous Sainik School Society and play an important role in nurturing students to get entry to the premiere National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy.
“Eventually a substantial number of Sainik School pass outs occupy the higher echelons of India’s defence forces. This new policy is just not about sharing finances and infrastructure on a Public–private partnership (PPP) model.”
Demanding that the government withdraw the move “to ensure the national and secular character of the Sainik Schools“, the party said, “The schools that are entering into agreement with SSS and the government, include a significant number of institutions with avowedly RSS and BJP links.”
On Wednesday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor lashed out at the Centre for the move calling the move a ‘shocking disregard’ for the standards of these schools.
“How on earth can this shameless government compromise India’s national security and its education system in this manner? The #Agniveer scheme is already an assault on the professionalism of our armed forces. Now this compounds the shocking disregard for the standards that have made our sainiks among the most respected in the world. Please withdraw this decision, @rajnathsingh ji!” the Congress MP wrote in a post on X.
The findings of the report have revealed that of the 40 Sainik School agreements so far, at least 62 per cent were awarded to schools linked to the RSS, BJP and other Hindutva organisations and their allied organisations and individuals.
For the first time in Sainik Schools’ history, Centre allowed private players to get affiliated with the schools, to receive “part financial support” and run their branches.
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Published: 04 Apr 2024, 02:38 PM IST
