Shiv Sena-BJP walkout over 'insult' to Vande Mataram

Mumbai, Apr 5 (UNI) Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today staged a walkout, protesting against the alleged 'insult' of national song Vande Mataram by the school education Minister Vasant Purke.

Mr Purke, while replying to the demand by SS-BJP members to make singing of the national song compulsory in schools during the debate on budgetary demands for school, higher and technical education, said, ''Patriotism should not be just for show. The feeling should come from within.'' The minister said he would convey the sentiments of the legislators to the cabinet.

Sena-BJP members criticised the minister for his comments of allegedly insulting the song and staged a walkout shouting 'Vande Mataram'.

Earlier, the minister urged the Legislators to give a thought and discuss on the nature of sex education to be imparted to school children.

Minister of state for school education Hasan Mushrif had told the Legislative Assembly last week that sex education would not be allowed in the state and the CBSE syllabus on the subject would be withdrawn.

''Sex education is the need of the hour. It is important as Mumbai is the AIDS capital of the country. NGOs, Doctors, education experts can be roped in to discuss the syllabus and the manner in which the education should be imparted by taking everybody into confidence and protecting the sentiments of all sections of the society,'' Mr Purke suggested.

The minister also stressed the need for baseline tests for school children as part of the Quality Improvement programme. The proposed tests were stopped last year after an out cry from teachers, patients and political parties.

''Our intention is not to create problems for anybody, but improve the general quality of education being imparted. Questions at the baseline tests were to be very simple,'' he informed.

Stating the percentage level of school dropouts among poor and backward sections of the society was alarming, Mr Purke said improving the overall education infrastructure was the need of the hour.

MORE UNI