State Govt orders probe into RSS run ashram-schools

State Govt orders probe into RSS run ashram-schools
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NASHIK MARCH 3: Tribal development minister of Maharashtra Madhukar Pichad, said that the State Government had formed a committee to conduct an inquiry into the tribal ashram-schools run by institutions affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which were opened during the Shiv Sena-BJP regime.

After a meeting of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) running ashram-schools in the State, Pichad said that the previous Shiv Sena-BJP government had permitted the setting up of 183 ashram-schools in various parts of the State. These included 23 run by RSS affiliated institutions.

He claimed that complaints of right wing Hindu ideology being taught in these schools had been received and the government had formed a committee led by the minister of state for tribal development, Prakash Avade, to investigate the issue. He said that after the receipt of the committee's report, appropriate decision would be taken against the "erring" institutions running the ashram-schools.

Pichad further said that the adivasis (tribals) were the natives of this land and that they had their own age-old traditions and rituals. He said that an attempt was being made to spread Hinduism among the tribals by some organisations.