The Tamil Nadu government on Friday denied charges that school students wear wristbands to denote their caste and said such no such practice exists in schools,"where all of them are united without discrimination."
"...Let us know where such things (coloured wrist bands) are worn...there is no such practice," state education minister K A Sengottaiyan told reporters here.
He said the government adheres to a philosophy of 'one caste and one religion' followed by former Chief Ministers and AIADMK leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.
On the circular issued by Director of School Education over the matter, he said "We were not consulted before it was issued."
In a recent circular, the Tamil Nadu School Education department had asked its officers to identify and crack down on schools in the state where children were allegedly being made to wear coloured wristbands to identify their caste.
Asked if the ban, as per the circular, would continue, the minister said, "According to us, whatever practice existed shall continue the way it is."
Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the government was taking all steps for eradication of caste, adding "there must be no difference anywhere including in educational institution.
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