BJP membership row: Delhi govt issues advisory to schools

Delhi government on Wednesday issued an advisory to all schools in the national capital to not "indulge" in any political activity inside the campus.

Delhi government on Wednesday issued an advisory to all schools in the national capital to not "indulge" in any political activity inside the campus.

The move came following reports that a leading private school's management had asked teachers and students to take membership of BJP.

"Education department has issued an advisory to all the schools to desist from any kind of political activity and not to indulge in forcible membership of any political outfit.

Strict action will be taken against those found flouting department's guideline," a senior government official said.

Education Department has issued a show cause notice to Ryan International school and will submit a report within three days.

A deputy director of education department is conducting an inquiry into the incident. "Schools must desist from polluting young minds for political and monetary gains," Delhi government said in a release. However, school management refuted the allegations.

The action against the school, which has campuses in Vasant Kunj, Rohini and Mayur Vihar, came following direction by Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who also holds the Education portfolio. The schools allegedly asked its staff including teachers and students to take membership of BJP. When contacted, senior executive at Ryan International's head-office in Mumbai, Niti Srinivasan said, "no drive asking students and teachers to join BJP was initiated in any of the group's schools." Srinivasan, however, added that the schools had only supported government's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.