<p>At the valedictory of the Abhiyaan in Kolar on Thursday, the minister said the State government is extending complete support to the Abhiyaan being conducted by the Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt of Sirsi. <br /><br />“I want to ask why oppose Gita only in schools and not in jails,” he fumed. “Being the Education Minister, I totally support the campaign. The government is ready to give money to mutts that support the religion and culture which the government believes in. Nobody can question it,” he said.</p>.<p>‘Useless debate’<br /></p>.<p>“Like one need not explain the Sun’s features, it is useless to discuss whether Gita is a holy text,” he added. <br /><br />District In-charge Minister M Narayanswamy later said the government was convinced that teaching Gita was essential in schools. Hence, it had taken the responsibility to conduct the campaign. <br /><br />Students of the Shankara Vidyalaya who were brought to the programme were later asked to return. <br /><br />Bangalore Jayanagar legislator Vijaykumar, who observed this, took Block Education Officer Shivalingaiah to task in the presence of the minister. <br /><br />At this Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena intervened and said that students could not participate in the programme with their uniform. “We cannot force the students to attend the programme and a government order has been issued to this effect,” said <br />Meena but the legislator was in no mood to buy his argument. “We only implemented the government order,” said the deputy commissioner. <br /></p>
<p>At the valedictory of the Abhiyaan in Kolar on Thursday, the minister said the State government is extending complete support to the Abhiyaan being conducted by the Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt of Sirsi. <br /><br />“I want to ask why oppose Gita only in schools and not in jails,” he fumed. “Being the Education Minister, I totally support the campaign. The government is ready to give money to mutts that support the religion and culture which the government believes in. Nobody can question it,” he said.</p>.<p>‘Useless debate’<br /></p>.<p>“Like one need not explain the Sun’s features, it is useless to discuss whether Gita is a holy text,” he added. <br /><br />District In-charge Minister M Narayanswamy later said the government was convinced that teaching Gita was essential in schools. Hence, it had taken the responsibility to conduct the campaign. <br /><br />Students of the Shankara Vidyalaya who were brought to the programme were later asked to return. <br /><br />Bangalore Jayanagar legislator Vijaykumar, who observed this, took Block Education Officer Shivalingaiah to task in the presence of the minister. <br /><br />At this Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena intervened and said that students could not participate in the programme with their uniform. “We cannot force the students to attend the programme and a government order has been issued to this effect,” said <br />Meena but the legislator was in no mood to buy his argument. “We only implemented the government order,” said the deputy commissioner. <br /></p>
