Chhattisgarh Makes Gayatri Mantra Mandatory in Govt Schools, Congress Alleges ‘Religious Agenda’
Raipur: A fresh political controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh after the BJP-led state government made the daily recitation of prayers, including the Gayatri Mantra, mandatory in all government schools from the current academic session. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress, which has accused the government of imposing a religious agenda in educational institutions.
The School Education Department issued a circular on June 12 directing all districts to implement a series of daily cultural, educational and value-based activities in schools. According to government officials, the initiative aims to promote patriotism, discipline, moral values, intellectual growth, and awareness of Indian culture and traditions among students.
Under the new guidelines, morning assemblies in government schools will include the national anthem, national song, Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, Guru Mantra, and readings from the lives of eminent personalities. Students will also recite a Bhojan Mantra before their mid-day meal.
At the end of the school day, students will participate in a closing session featuring the state song, Gayatri Mantra, and Shanti Mantra. The government has directed District Education Officers (DEOs) to ensure strict compliance with the order and warned that administrative action may be taken against school authorities found violating the guidelines.
Congress Questions Mandatory Religious Recitations
The opposition Congress has strongly opposed the decision, arguing that government schools should not promote practices associated with any one religion.
Chhattisgarh Congress Communication Department chairman Sushil Anand Shukla said that while the inclusion of the national anthem, national song and state song was appropriate, making Hindu religious mantras compulsory was unnecessary and inappropriate.
“The government appears determined to turn schools into Saraswati Shishu Mandirs. Imposing the RSS agenda in government schools is wrong,” Shukla said.
He further argued that mandatory recitation of Hindu mantras could hurt the sentiments of students from other faiths and undermine the constitutional principle of equal respect for all religions.
Shukla also warned that such a move could lead to demands for the inclusion of verses from other religious texts, including the Quran, Gurbani and the Bible.
‘Religious Freedom Is a Fundamental Right’
Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo also criticised the government’s decision, describing it as inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution.
Speaking in Ambikapur, Singh Deo said participation in prayers or religious rituals should remain voluntary.
“Those who wish to worship their deities or recite religious mantras should be free to do so. But such practices cannot be imposed on followers of other religions. Forcing anyone to participate in the religious traditions or prayers of another faith is completely wrong,” he said.
He urged the state government to either withdraw the order or provide students with an option to opt out of the religious recitations.
Debate Over Culture and Secularism
While the state government maintains that the directive is intended to promote cultural awareness, discipline and moral values, critics argue that compulsory recitation of Hindu prayers in government schools raises concerns about religious neutrality and constitutional secularism.
With the issue now triggering a broader debate on the role of religion in public education, the controversy is expected to remain a major political flashpoint in Chhattisgarh in the coming weeks.
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