Sign of atmosphere of fear, says Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP government, saying the Ryan International School case of “coercion” to join the saffron outfit is a sign of the “atmosphere of fear” that prevails under the current regime.
“(There’s a) Certain fear across the length and breadth of the country that if you do not become member of the BJP, your organization will be targeted.That seems to be the atmosphere that is building up,” said party spokesman Rajeev Gowda.
Drawing a parallel with Chhattisgarh, where Congress claimed, the state government encourages employees to join BJP or its allied organizations, Ryan International is encouraging its students and staff to go and join the BJP, he said, “This is what happens when an atmosphere of fear is developed.”
Gowda said that Congress strongly condemns such “interference”.
“It is something that we must condemn and we must ensure that educational institutions remain free of these kinds of political involvement or in no way interfere with rights of the citizen, the students and they should be allowed to make their own political choice rather than (be) overtly pressured into becoming the member of the BJP. We condemn this strongly,” Gowda said.
Responding to reports that Delhi government has pulled up Ryan International school for forcing teachers and students to join BJP, Gowda said that it must be ensured that educational institutions remain free from politics.