From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 11: Obviously taking a cue from his West Bengal counterpart Mamatha Banerjee, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday slammed University Grants Commission's (UGC) directive to all Universities and educational institutions in the country to compulsorily stream Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to mark the centenary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's landmark Chicago address.
"The speech is nothing but (Modi’s) views extolling the virtues and greatness of BJP version of Hindutva," Siddaramaiah said and said why should students be compelled to listen to it and universities be forced to beam the speech.
It may be recalled that West Bengal Education Minister Partha Banerjee had ordered Universities in the State not to obey UGC’s directive to arrange telecast of the Prime Minister’s speech as the BJP was attempting to pollute the minds of students and saffronise education.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday, the Chief Minister said there was no need to listen to Modi’s speech as it is nothing but propagating the Sangh Parivar ideology.
"If it (the speech) is about Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, then it must be about Hindutva. So it is not necessary to listen to it. I came to know about this from the media," he claimed.
The Prime Minister’s address was screened at Senate Bhavan at Manasagangothri in Mysuru, even as students gathered outside to protest against the UGC's direction.
The students protest was led by social activist P Mallesh.
Answering questions on the demand from JD(S) for the Mayor’s post in the forthcoming Mayoral elections in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), he said he had not spoken about it with anybody nor had anyone spoken about the matter with him.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness that the State was blessed with good rainfall this year and declared that arrangements were being made to ensure there is no shortage of seeds and fertilizers.
Siddaramaiah also took a dig at the BJP and said: "During the tenure of the BJP, when farmers demanded seeds and fertilizers, they were fired upon in Haveri. There is no such situation this time in the state."
The Chief Minister said the Irrigation Department would be asked to release water into the canals for fifteen days every month to facilitate sowing operations.