Cong, NSUI slams BJP for politicising schools with Emergency circular

Panaji: Educational institutions and school students should not be used by BJP as a playground for political campaigns, said Congress. Congress party’s student wing met the education director on Friday and demanded that the circular mandating schools to observe “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” be withdrawn.

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) said involving students in activities about the 1975-77 Emergency is “inappropriate political engagement” and a distraction from education.

“Schools should remain neutral educational spaces. Involving students in politically sensitive discussions about the Emergency risks exposing them to biased narratives, which may hinder their objective learning and critical thinking,” said state NSUI president Naushad Chowdhari.

The NSUI fears that govt will choose not to provide a balanced historical perspective on the Emergency. The students attempted to convince the education director to withdraw the circular. Police initially prevented the students from entering the building, but finally relented.

“1975-77 was a challenging time marked by national security concerns and efforts to maintain stability. It included measures to curb inflation, boost agriculture, and enforce family planning, which some argue were necessary,” said Chowdhari.

Congress said that schools should remain apolitical.

“Who is the BJP to talk about democracy when they have been destroying it since day one? We came to meet the education director but were stopped. Is it democracy when the director is preventing students from meeting him?” said a protesting student.