A political controversy has arisen in Bihar regarding the color scheme of the newly inaugurated 551 ‘Saraswati Vidya Niketan’ model schools. Opposition parties like RJD, Congress, and AIMIM have accused the NDA government of saffronizing education. The ruling alliance has defended the color choice, emphasizing the need to focus on enhancing education quality rather than politicizing the issue.
The controversy escalated after Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary inaugurated the 551 model schools recently. Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, responding to the opposition’s criticism, rejected the allegations and justified the use of saffron color. He explained that saffron symbolizes prosperity and is one of the colors of India’s national flag, urging against viewing colors through a political lens.
Tiwari emphasized that the government’s aim is to strengthen Bihar’s education system and that unnecessary controversies over colors divert attention from real educational issues. He highlighted the installation of statues of Goddess Saraswati in schools, stating that students traditionally seek her blessings before commencing their studies. Tiwari stressed the importance of providing quality education and avoiding unnecessary debates over color choices.
Rejecting the opposition’s claims, Tiwari criticized them for selective politics and accused them of objecting to the color saffron despite earlier objections to religious texts. He defended the government’s efforts in creating a modern education system for children from all backgrounds, offering advanced learning facilities and digital education platforms in the new model schools.
