Shimla, Sep 5 (PTI) Actor and BJP MP from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Kangana Ranaut, batted for the establishment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-run schools in Himachal Pradesh should the BJP come to power in the state, currently run by the Congress party.
Her comments followed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s recent proposal for the establishment of at least 1,000 Vidya Bharati institutions across West Bengal, which received criticism from opposition parties.
Speaking to PTI Videos after chairing a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) in Himachal’s Mandi district, Ranaut expressed her support for the initiative, stating, “I would like such schemes to be introduced in Himachal Pradesh when our government comes to power in the state. It is a good initiative and should be replicated in Himachal too.” Ranaut called the RSS a source of national pride, highlighting that the organisation has established numerous schools and has consistently served the nation during times of crisis.
She emphasised that schools and educational initiatives run by the RSS, such as Eklavya Model Schools and those preparing students for the NEET exam, provide better opportunities for children in rural and remote areas.
In response to the ‘saffronisation of education’ charges raised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal following the announcement, Ranaut accused the TMC of promoting anti-national sentiments and attempting to create divisions within the country for political gain.
She asserted that one cannot expect actions in the national interest from parties that harbour hatred for the country or participate in conspiracies.
The education wing of the RSS, Vidya Bharati, is preparing for a major expansion of its school network in West Bengal, with plans to establish a presence in all 345 blocks of the state over the next few years, officials said.
Earlier, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed Adhikari’s statement, questioning how the government could open schools affiliated with the RSS, which he described as an ‘unregistered body.’ “If a chief minister is saying that the government will open 1,000 schools affiliated with the RSS and that this is the target, then this cannot be the government’s objective. The RSS is an unregistered body. How can the government open schools for it? The government should focus on opening government schools. Perhaps he is trying to create a new controversy and make headlines,” Bharadwaj told PTI Videos. PTI BPL MPL MPL
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