LUCKNOW, June 21 -- Uttar Pradesh Congress has opposed the move to merge government primary and upper primary schools with less than 50 students in Uttar Pradesh, alleging it is nothing but a planned attempt to close schools.

"Merger is basically an attempt to close thousands of government schools that will deprive children of the common man of their right to education. The letter from the basic education department seeks to correct the student ratio but nowhere it has been mentioned that schools will be closed due to poor student strength, which is actually being done by basic education officers," alleged state Congress chief Ajay Rai who also wrote a letter to the governor demanding that the process be stopped.

In the letter written o...