Congress demands CM Shinde or his deputies meet OBC activist on hunger strike
Chandrapur (PTI): Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Sunday demanded either Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde or his deputies visit Chandrapur within two days to ensure that an OBC leader on a hunger strike calls off his protest.
Rashtriya Other Backward Classes (OBC) Mahasangh activist Ravindra Tonge has been fasting since September 11 opposing any attempt to include Marathas in the OBC category.
Wadettiwar said the state government should give a written assurance to OBC leaders (on not bringing Marathas under the OBC category) and sort out this issue.
Addressing reporters after a rally was organised in Chandrapur to oppose the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category, the Congress leader demanded the Centre bring a constitutional amendment regarding the existing 50% ceiling for reservations and settle the quota issue.
Wadettiwar claimed the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday passed a resolution calling for an increase in the existing upper limit of reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs if the party comes to power.
"Either the chief minister or (two) deputy chief ministers should visit Chandrapur to interact with OBC leaders and appeal to the leader to withdraw his hunger strike within two days," he said.
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, who observed a hunger strike for 16 days before withdrawing it on the assurance of CM Eknath Shinde on September 14, has demanded that Marathas be granted Kunbi status, which effectively means their inclusion under the OBC quota.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that the existing OBC quota won't be diluted while granting the reservation to the Maratha community.
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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.
