The State Congress on Thursday took strong exception to Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya's controversial statement on private school managements and asked him to restrain himself from make such statements.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Parameshwara, in a letter to Anjaneya, said the minister's statement creates confusion and dents the image of the party.
“You should be careful while make statements. This (the statement) can have a bearing on the party’s prospects in the coming Legislative Council elections from teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies,” the party president added.
Anjaneya, at a programme earlier this week, had said some private school managements ran their institutes like brothels.
Parameshwara has also said that many heads of religious and educational institutions had contracted him over phone and expressed their anguish over the minister's statement.
Instead of making such statements, the minister should ensure appropriate legal action against the institutions that are fleecing the poor, he added.
Earlier, replying to a query by reporters on Governor Vajubhai Vala returning two ordinances, Parameshwara said the governor had done his job. The government will rectify mistakes, if any, as pointed out by the governor.
Vala returned ordinances on providing reservation to SC/STs in government contracts and setting up a university on rural development and panchayat raj.
On Congress MLC V S Ugrappa’s statement to launch a protest against the governor, Parameshwara said that it was his personal stand.
Schools decry statement
Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka have written to minister for Social Welfare, H Anjaneya stating that his statement on private schools amounts to defamation.
The managements, in their letter, have said that it was derogatory on the part of the minister to have made such a statement against the institutions where children study and women work.
“There are reports that schools are extracting money from students who have secured RTE seats. In such cases, the government can exercise its power to take action. Also, why not publish details about the schools run by politicians and the amount of money they make?” the association has said in its letter.