Rajasthan College Order on PM's Birthday Events Draws Congress, PUCL Fire
Rajasthan's college education department has asked institutions to hold events for a month-long campaign around PM Modi's birthday, drawing criticism from Congress and PUCL.
An order from Rajasthan's college education authorities directing institutions to take part in events marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition Congress and civil rights groups.
The programme, described as a month-long 'Viksit Bharat-Jan Seva Abhiyan', lists 12 activities. Among them is 'Ashirwad Ka Diya', in which students, beneficiaries of government schemes and members of the public have been asked to light lamps at dusk on the campaign's opening day.
The Commissionerate of College Education instructed all government and private colleges in the State to hold the lamp-lighting on September 17, community service on October 2, and 'Seva First' innovation challenge competitions over a fortnight from October 1 to 15, with compliance reports to be submitted afterwards.
College Education Commissioner Nathmal Didel said the month-long programme would follow guidelines issued by the Planning Department, adding that it was intended to promote public service, social concern and good governance.
The Planning Department's order said the campaign would be tracked through a dedicated portal, with district administrations and departments uploading programme details, photographs and videos. It said information on government welfare activities would be disseminated and the participation of women, farmers and youth encouraged.
Some private colleges in Jaipur reportedly asked male staff members to stay back to light the lamps after women teachers said they could not remain present until late evening.
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully questioned why government departments and educational institutions were being drawn into birthday celebrations for the Prime Minister. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to mask its failures through such events, at a time when ordinary people and vulnerable sections were contending with rising inflation and hardship.
The People's Union for Civil Liberties said the BJP government had crossed all limits of sycophancy by officially celebrating Mr. Modi's birthday. PUCL national president Kavita Srivastava said celebrating the birthdays of living, active politicians amounted to sycophancy that traps students in a feudal mindset, and that institutions of higher learning should nurture independent thinking and scientific temper.
PUCL State president Anant Bhatnagar said the ruling BJP was pushing college students to become submissive subjects rather than develop a critical outlook. The organisation called the government order authoritarian and said nothing should be done to stifle students' independent thinking.