Changes in Shashi Tharoor due to understanding people's interests: Suresh Gopi
Thrissur (Kerala), Jun 20 (PTI): Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi on Friday said that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has to decide whether he wants to join the BJP and the changes seen in him were the outcome of understanding the people's interests.
The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism also said that worshipping Bharat Mata was akin to worship of the goddess earth.
Gopi was responding to reporters' queries regarding Tharoor and the ongoing Bharat Mata-related row between Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the state government.
On queries regarding whether Tharoor would join the BJP, the union minister said that he cannot act as a "catalyst" for it as the Congress MP has to decide whether he wants to join the saffron party.
When he was asked whether there was any change in Tharoor's stance, Gopi said that it was not a mere change.
"It was a necessity desired by the people. It is a change that has come from understanding the people's interests," the BJP leader said.
Regarding the practice of appointment of personal staff by the ministers of the ruling government, Gopi said that not only did he disagree with it, he was totally opposed to it.
He contended that while various other pensions were not being paid, those appointed as personal staff for a couple of years were getting all kinds of benefits and huge salaries, which was "wrong".
"That is wrong. Let them (personal staff) be paid salaries for their work. But giving them all the other benefits, that should be banned," Gopi said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
