Don’t question patriotism of students, says Smriti Irani

HRD Minister Smriti Irani said that students are “sensitive” and their patriotism should not be questioned.

Dismissing concerns that students were being radicalized in certain educational institutions, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said on Wednesday that students are “sensitive” and their patriotism should not be questioned. However, Irani said “if the member has any specific information about radicalization happening at educational institutions, the government will look into it.” “Bilkul galat hai (it is completely wrong)” to say that some students are getting radicalized at some educational institutions, she said during Question Hour.

Asserting that students are “sensitive and one should not point fingers at their patriotism”, she added that “this kind of accusation should not be made (against students).” She was replying to a question of Shiv Sena member Shrirang Appa Barne on whether there were any reports of radicalization of students in certain educational institutions including anti-national and anti-social activities in some of the state-funded higher educational institutes.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed Barne from naming any institution and asked him to stick to his supplementary. In her reply, Irani said “details of anti-national, anti-social incidents in state funded higher educational institutions, involving radicalized youth, are not centrally maintained.”

She also said these institutions were responsible for monitoring the standards of conduct of students in the courses of study. They also take necessary steps against any anti-national and anti-social activity on their campuses to ensure a peaceful academic atmosphere.

The National Integration Council (NIC) in 2011 had requested the Department of Higher Education to launch effective programmes in all educational institutions to stop radicalization of youth.

Source:: Indian Express