Kolkata, Sept. 3 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said the media was free to criticise him, but warned against taking digs at the saffron colour, saying everyone had a limit to their tolerance.
Speaking at the annual programme of Vidya Bharati, organised by Vivekananda Vidya Bikash Parishad, Adhikari said the younger generation must be groomed to remain committed to the nation.
"Our Air Force struck targets 100km inside the border during Operation Sindoor. But terrorists operating within the country must be eliminated democratically and through legal means," he said.
Calling for sweeping reforms in West Bengal's education system, Adhikari said the number of Vidya Bharati Vidya Mandirs in the state should be increased to 1,000 within the next one year, with corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
Adhikari said education should focus on strengthening patriotism, cultural heritage and national consciousness alongside academic learning.
He said Vidya Bharati was complementing the government's efforts in the education sector and urged the organisation to expand its network from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Adhikari criticised the education policies followed by successive governments in Bengal, particularly during the communist regime, alleging that Bengali-medium students were deprived of opportunities to learn English and computers.
The CM also questioned aspects of the state syllabus, claiming that historical figures and events associated with Bengal's identity and nationalism had not received adequate attention.
He alleged that the earlier education system had created divisions among students on religious lines through scholarship policies. He also referred to the Singur agitation and said the role of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee and Swami Pranabananda in the creation of West Bengal did not find adequate space in the syllabus.
The CM said his government had introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) and made singing of the complete version of Vande Mataram mandatory during prayers in schools. He said some institutions had initially objected to the move, but the government had stood firm on its decision.
Adhikari said education, healthcare, spiritual awakening and disaster relief were among the principal areas of service identified by Swami Vivekananda. He urged Vidya Bharati to undertake similar initiatives, including distributing copies of the Bhagavad Gita.
He said he had requested Union defence minister Rajnath Singh to increase the number of Sainik Schools in Bengal and introduce NCC in every school and college.
Referring to the education department, Adhikari said four ministers were now associated with the portfolio and would work together on reforms. He invoked Syama Prasad Mukherjee's slogan of "one country, one law, one flag, one chief", saying the principle should also find reflection in education.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.