Monday, April 29

Keep Armed Forces Away From Partisan Politics: Kharge Writes To President Against Privatisation Of Sainik Schools

Edited by Aishwarya Krishnan
Keep Armed Forces Away From Partisan Politics: Kharge Writes To President Against Privatisation of Sainik Schools

On Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter addressing President Droupadi Murmu against the Central government’s decision to privatise Sainik schools, demanding a complete rollback of the policy and annulling the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed for the same.

Kharge, in the two-page letter, stated that the democracy of India has traditionally kept the Armed Forces and its affiliated institutions away from partisan politics, aligning with the highest values of democracy. Because of the deliberate compartmentalization, India has successfully avoided military interference, martial law, and the subversion of democracy in all its years, even as other global regimes succumbed to it, he wrote.

Highlighting the investigative report based on an RTI reply, which revealed that through a new PPP model introduced by the government, Sainik Schools are being privatised, with 62 percent of the schools “are said to be owned by the BJP-RSS leaders,” Kharge stated.

He pointed out that while 33 Sainik Schools in India were fully government-funded and operated under the Sainik School Society (SSS), which was an independent body under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), that had changed in 2021. Kharge highlighted that the centre had “brazenly initiated the privatisation of Sainik Schools” by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for 40 out of the 100 new schools with incentives such as SSS offering to provide support of a maximum Rs 1.2 crore per annum for a school that has classes until grade 12.

The party president added that according to the report, out of the 40 MoUs signed, 62 percent were with individuals and organisations associated with the right-wing Hindutva organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh (RSS) and BJP leaders or its allies.

Describing it as a “blatant step to politicise the independent Sainik Schools,” Kharge asked whether the privatisation policy was an attempt to “ideologically indoctrinate the Armed Forces at the entry level,” as no other political party had ever pulled a move like this. Notably, Sainik Schools play a pivotal role in grooming cadets for military academies such as the Indian Naval Academy and the National Defence Academy. Kharge also mentioned that the schools, established by India’s first PM, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1961, have been the “beacon of military leadership and excellence” since.

Adding that it was unsurprising the Centre had broken this convention, Kharge accused the PM Modi government of undermining institutions after institutions, “In the grand plan of the RSS to hurriedly thrust its ideology, they have dealt a body blow to the very nature and ethos of the Armed Forces.”

He further wrote, “Imparting ideologically slanted knowledge in such institutions shall not only destroy inclusiveness but also damage the national character of the Sainik Schools, by influencing their character through partisan religious/corporate/family/social/cultural credos.”

In the name of national interest, the Congress president concluded the letter by demanding the complete rollback of the privatisation policy and the annulment of the MoUs so the children of Armed Forces Schools could retain their “desired character, vision, and honour required for the service of the nation.”

According to the investigative report by The Reporters’ Collective, out of the 40 private schools, 11 are owned by BJP leaders, managed by trusts under their domain, or are affiliated with friends and allies of the saffron party. Eight schools are under the management of the RSS and its associated organisations, while six schools are strongly associated with Hindutva groups or leaders from extreme right-wing religious organisations.

Previously, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to roll back the policy. Former lieutenant General Prakash Menon had stated that the ‘catch them young’ concept was being applied here, adding that it was not good for the armed forces, as per The Reporters’ Collective.