The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government locked horns with the Centre over how to celebrate Independence Day on August 15 in schools across the state.
The state government instructed schools to ignore a directive issued earlier by the human resources development ministry asking education institutions to follow a centre- prescribed format for I-D celebration.
The state government took the stand amid the ongoing controversy over BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government making it compulsory for Madrasa students to sing the national song “Vande Mataram” on I-day.
In its circular, HRD ministry directed all educational institutions to conduct quiz contests, lectures and debates among others on the occasion. The schools were advised to submit supporting video recordings of the celebrations to the office of Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) by August 31, 2017.
However, taking exception to the centre’s circular, the Bengal school education department issued the notice on Friday, barely 72 hours before 15th August stating that Independence Day 2017 “will not be celebrated” in the manner specified by the Modi government.