Mamata Banerjee Directs Schools Not To Follow Centre’s Advisory On Independence Day Celebrations

The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has asked schools in the state not to follow directives issued by the Centre over how to celebrate Independence Day, Hindustan Times has reported.

According to the daily, the state government has instructed schools to ignore a directive issued by the Human Resources Development ministry. The ministry had advised schools across the country to conduct quiz contests, lectures and debates among other programmes on the occasion. In a counter-circular, the state government has asked district project officers of the Sarva Shiksha Mission to immediately instruct all schools and educational institutions to stop preparations for the celebration as per the format prescribed by the Centre.

“It has been decided by the state school education department that Independence Day 2017 will not be celebrated in that manner,” the circular reads.

“We do not need lessons of patriotism from BJP. Independence Day will be celebrated here this year in the same manner it has been celebrated all these years,” West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chaterjee has said, adding that the state is not bound to follow the directive of the Union government on this matter.