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It was not Congress alone that lashed out at the government, DMK chief Karunanidhi accused the government of renaming Teachers Day as "Guru Utsav," which was subsequently rebutted by minister Smriti Irani stating that it was the title of an essay competition conducted by the ministry.
Controversy over Modi's address to school children also centred around the fact that several states namely West Bengal have rejected the CBSE circular claiming that they would be holding separate celebrations. The timing of the PM's speech from 3 pm to 4.45 pm was also an issue which had schools worried about how this would be accommodated for children as young as students from Class I.
The PM is slated to address students from the Manekshaw Auditorium and intercat with a select group which will be beamed live to over 18 lakh government and private schools in the country through Doordarshan, education channels and over the web.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned whether such a move "was a misuse of government machinery. Are we allowed to virtually make political propaganda to children to young minds. What will children of class I and II understand of the address. "
Emphasising the "hypocrisy" of the Modi government's "so called respect for teachers" Singhvi questioned the silence of the PM on incidents of vandalism in the past by ABVP students on the teaching community.
Rejecting charges of politicisation, HRD minister Irani today said, "This particular activity is voluntary in nature. If it is being politicised, then I would say it is regrettable." Reacting sharply to criticism of the PM's address, Irani said, "If the prime minister of a free India does not have the freedom to interact with students, then it is ridiculous."
Meanwhile other Dravidian political parties have also voiced their opposition to the purported move to rename Teachers Day as guru Utsav; Irani rejected the accusation stating that September 5, the birth anniversary of former President the late S Radhakrishnan, will continue to be celebrated as 'Teachers' Day'. "I don't know how it all started. Those who are commenting either don't know the facts or are doing it wilfully for political reasons," she said.
With the controversy refusing to die down, ministry sources confirm that the government is now attempting to convey that attendance for the PM's speech is voluntary and not mandatory as had been construed.
