Lucknow/New Delhi: In remarks that are likely to stoke controversy, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria has said that "if saffronisation of education was good for the country, it would happen".

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Katheria made the remarks on Saturday at a function in Lucknow University. 

"Reporters told us that some people are saying that our government is saffronising education in the country. I am saying that saffronisation will definitely take place in both education and in the country.

"Whatever is good for the country will definitely take place, whether it is bhagwakaran (saffronisation) or sanghwad," Katheria said in his address at the event.

"For a very long time, we just kept watching. We did not make any allegations against anyone. But today, keeping in mind the condition of the country, whatever is necessary for the welfare of the nation and its reputation will take place," he added.

He further said:"If our children do not read about Maharana Pratap or Maharaj Shivaji, then will they read about Genghis Khan?"

Katheria's remarks came even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has cautioned its leaders from making controversial statements as these deflect from the "development agenda" of the Narendra Modi government.