"Unwarranted, Misleading": Centre On Congress Allegation On Sainik Schools
NDTV
An "investigative report based on an RTI reply" has revealed that 62 per cent of the privatised Sainik schools belong to leaders of the BJP and the RSS, wrote Mr Kharge.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has written to President of India Droupadi Murmu, demanding a rollback of the Centre's move to "privatise" Sainik schools, calling it a "blatant attempt to politicise them". An "investigative report based on an RTI reply" has revealed that 62 per cent of the privatised Sainik schools belong to leaders of the BJP and the party's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he wrote. The Ministry of Defence has denied the allegation, saying in a press note issued a few days ago that the system involves a strict selection process.
"The political or ideological affiliation or otherwise of the applicant institution does not influence the selection process. Attempts to politicize or distort the objectives and implementation of the scheme by casting aspersions on it, are unwarranted and misleading," the ministry said.
In his two-page letter, Mr Kharge said, "Indian Democracy has conventionally kept our Armed Forces away from any partisan politics. In the past successive Indian governments kept Armed Forces and its affiliate institutions away from shadows of varying political ideologies".
