Shameful that PM Modi more concerned about Israel than Manipur: Rahul
Aizawl (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was more concerned about happenings in Israel than in Manipur, which has been riven by an ethnic conflict since May this year.
Addressing a rally near Raj Bhavan here after undertaking a 2-km-long padayatra through the city roads, he said that neighbouring Manipur is no longer a unified single state, but has been divided into two states on ethnic lines.
Gandhi, who began a two-day visit to poll-bound Mizoram, also asserted that the Congress ushered in peace in the insurgency-hit northeastern state with the signing of a peace accord in 1986.
"It is amazing to me that the PM and the Government of India is so interested in what is happening in Israel (Israel-Hamas conflict) but not interested at all in what is happening in Manipur, where people have been murdered, women molested and babies killed," he said.
"It is something to be ashamed of that the leader of our Union has not travelled to Manipur after what has happened there, and Manipur is the symptom of the problem. You can see the same problem in a smaller form in many different parts of the nation. People from minority communities, tribals and dalits are feeling uncomfortable. There is an oppression being carried out on the people of India," the former Congress president alleged.
Elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7, and counting of votes will take place on December 3.
The Congress released a list of 39 candidates for the polls, with the party's state unit chief Lalsawta fielded from Aizawl West-III (ST).
Gandhi also said that the idea of India is under attack by the saffron party, which targets different communities, religions and languages.
"The idea of India that respects each other, is tolerant, learns from other ideas, religions and languages and that loves itself as a whole... That is the idea of India which is under attack by the BJP. They spread hatred and violence in the country. They spread arrogance, lack of understanding and this is completely against the idea of India," he said.
Gandhi criticised the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) over job creation, the drug menace and infrastructure, and accused it of destroying the state's economy.
"While the BJP attacks your culture, religion and tradition, the MNF supports them in Delhi... Over the last five years, the MNF government has created only 2,000 jobs. Infrastructure and the roads here are in shambles, and they are destroying the economic future of the state. Drugs are spreading rampantly across the future generation, and 250 young lives have been extinguished because of this," the Congress leader claimed.
"It is a shame that the people running your government are in cahoots with the government of Delhi," he added.
Gandhi urged people to vote for the Congress, arguing that it provides not "empty words" but a vision for Mizoram, as he cited examples of "good governance" in states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where the party is in power.
"We will defend your culture, religion and tradition... because if Mizo culture, tradition and language is attacked and destroyed, then India is attacked and destroyed. We love your diversity, perspective and way of looking at the world and at life. This is our most valuable asset, as it is the heart of Mizoram," he said.
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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.
