Two days after criticising the Centre for asking schools in all states to celebrate the Independence Day following the guidelines set by the human resource development ministry, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government never imposed restrictions on the event.
“Some BJP-cornered media misrepresenting facts. Don’t mislead. In Bengal each one has the full freedom to celebrate 70 years of our freedom. All schools in Bengal are celebrating Independence Day as per their choice. In their own special way,” Banerjee tweeted.
On August 11, the state school education department issued a circular asking educational institutions to not adhere to the HRD ministry order. The order reportedly asked schools to make videos of the celebrations and send the recordings to the Ministry.
{{/usCountry}}On August 11, the state school education department issued a circular asking educational institutions to not adhere to the HRD ministry order. The order reportedly asked schools to make videos of the celebrations and send the recordings to the Ministry.
{{/usCountry}}A senior minister said the state government’s order was misinterpreted and a section of the media reported that the administration had directed schools not to celebrate Independence Day at all. “We want schools to celebrate the way they want, rather than follow a specific format prescribed by the Union government. The state government order has been grossly misinterpreted. So, the chief minister had to issue a clarification,” he said.