What’s PM Modi Doing in Chacha Chaudhary Books: NCP’s Supriya Sule

Sule said that besides the BJP, no political party had tried to promote its ideology through education in the past.

Lok Sabha MP and senior NCP leader Supriya Sule.

(Photo Courtesy: Supriya Sule’s Twitter Page)

Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule, on 28 May, accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of trying to "promote" its "ideology" through education by using images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on books recommended for supplementary reading in schools.

Waving a book titled 'Chacha Chaudhary and Narendra Modi' at a press conference, Sule said, “I am happy that through these books the message of cleanliness is given to the students, however, what was the need to use PM Modi's large pictures on these books?”

Sule said photos of Sant Gadgebaba, a 19th century mendicant-saint and social reformer from Maharashtra, or Mahatma Gandhi, who spread the message about cleanliness, should have been used on these books instead of those of Modi.

The Maharashtra government had reportedly taken a decision to buy books worth Rs 59.42 lakh under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) as a supplementary reading material for students which include the books on Chacha Choudhary and Modi series that can be read by the students in leisure time.

“It is unfortunate that the government is trying to promote itself using education as a mean. Education should not be used for political gains but the government is doing it by bringing marketing into the education,” she said.

Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said no political party had tried to promote its ideology through education in the past, "but this government is doing this which is unfortunate".

The Baramati MP also sought clarification from state Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the government's decision to close down 1,300 schools run by Zilla Parishads across the state.

After I spoke about the state government’s decision to close 1300 schools in the state, Tawdeji said I and Sharad Pawar were lying. But today, I have all the data with me and on the basis of the data and the media reports, I would like to seek clarification from the state government on what basis they are closing down or merging the schools in the state

Supriya Sule

In most of the villages where the decision to merge or close down the schools is taken the local residents are opposing it, she said. "I am not saying this. It is the school-wise report (sought from respective Zilla Parishads) which shows that in majority areas people are opposing it," she added.

Tawde had said that a “false propaganda” was created over the closure of 1,300 schools which had recorded low enrollment.

A few months ago, the government decided to close down over 1,300 schools on account of low number of students and poor education standards. The move drew criticism from various quarters.