Gita learning not a K`taka govt program: Minister

Facing a storm of controversy over a programme to teach the Bhagavad Gita in primary and higher secondary schools, the BJP government in Karnataka on Tuesday said it neither sponsored nor funded the exercise.

Karwar (Karnataka): Facing a storm of controversy
over a programme to teach the Bhagavad Gita in primary and
higher secondary schools, the BJP government in Karnataka
on Tuesday said it neither sponsored nor funded the exercise.
"The Gita programme has been going on since 2007 under the
leadership of Swarnavalli Mutt head Gangadhareshwara
Sawaraswathi across the state. But unfortunately it has hogged
the lime light now," Minister for Primary and Secondary
Education Visveshwara Hegde Kageri told PTI over phone.

He said the programme has been organised in 26 districts
since 2007 without any opposition, but, "some persons" raked
up the controversy when it was being held in Kolar, the 27th
district, recently.

The government had only asked the education department to
extend its cooperation to the programme as it had been doing
for other programmes like planting of saplings organised by
various organisations, Kageri said.
Kageri`s reported remarks at a function in Kolar decrying
those opposing Gita learning has come under flak from Students
Federation of India (SFI) activists, who have been
spearheading the agitation.

Karnataka High Court last week ordered issue of notices to
the state and Union governments on education department`s
circular on teaching of Gita in primary and higher secondary
schools.

PTI

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