Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 19: Private school managements are angry over remarks made by minister for social welfare, Anjaneya, that private schools are run like brothels. It is gathered that they are considering suing him for this remark.

Recently, addressing a gathering at Kurubarahalli government higher primary school, the minister had said that private schools are run like brothels. His remarks came when making an effort to point out that private school managements charged exorbitant fee and that they did not provide equal opportunities to all classes of the society. He also was expressing anger at the attitude of some schools which demanded fees even from those who get admitted under right to education quota.

Organizing secretary of Karnataka State Private School Managements Federation, Shashi Kumar, revealed that the federation is considering filing of defamation suit against the minister for this insulting remark. He said that there is confusion over who pays cost of books and fees.

CBSE Schools Association organizing secretary, Mansoor Ali Khan, also termed the remarks as unbecoming of a minister and irresponsible. He felt that the minister is not aware of the contributions made by private schools to the society, and urged the chief minister to act against the minister. Srinivasan, president of Independent CBSE Schools Association of Karnataka, also said that the minister would be sued for his remarks.

When approached, the minister defended his remarks, duly commenting that he has received complaints from various children chosen under Rights to Education Act, that school managements are pressurizing them to pay fees. He added however, that all schools are not bad. Interestingly, family members of Anjaneya too run a couple of private schools.

When some reporters sought chief minister, Siddaramaiah's opinion on this, he said it was not proper on the part of the minister to make such remarks.