TDP not to allow 'saffronisation' of education

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 3. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has reiterated his opposition to the proposed `saffronisation' of education, saying his Government and the Telugu Desam would resist any attempt to implement it.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Mr. Naidu, said he did not participate in the conference of the non-BJP Chief Ministers on the issue as ``we have extended unconditional support to the NDA Government''. He hastened to add that this did not mean he would acquiesce in everything the NDA Government did. ``We will not hesitate to differ or speak out where policies or actions are unacceptable.'' Initially, he claimed that he did not attend the conference as he was not invited. A reporter then pointed out that the organisers claimed to have invited him. Mr. Naidu was embarrassed when a senior aide also told him the invitation was indeed sent. ``They did not tell me about it,'' he said. As an afterthought, Mr. Naidu said when informed of a call from Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, he rang up the West Bengal Chief Minister but could not get him on the line.

Mr. Naidu sought to underscore his anti-saffron credentials by recalling that it was his Minister for Higher Education, Ms. K. Prathibha Bharati, (now the Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly), who had opposed the move to introduce `Saraswati Vandanam' at the conference of Education Ministers, a few years ago.

He said it was regrettable that in a modern and highly competitive global environment, the education system was sought to be run on traditional lines. He parried queries if he would write to the Centre against the proposal, saying the question would arise when the system was `saffronised'.

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Section  : National
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