After Karnataka Congress MLA and INC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge opposed the move by the ruling BJP government in the state to colour code 'Viveka' classrooms in Saffron, Basavaraj Bommai said that saffron is also colour in our national flag. He further questioned, "Why're they (Congress) so unhappy when they see saffron colour?"
The Karnataka government has recently announced that 8,100 old and non-functioning classrooms will be replaced under the Viveka classrooms scheme. The Department of School Education and Literacy will construct new classrooms in the new government-run schools like Karnataka Public Schools or Adarsha Schools at the cost of Rs 992 crore.
Construction of 7,000 of the 8,100 classes will be funded by State, SCP/TSP, SDP. Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB) to build the remaining 1,100 classes. The government has decided to name them after Swami Vivekananda and every class will have the sayings of Swami Vivekananda. All the classes to be in the same structure and colour.
The state government's decision was hailed until it decided to colour-code the classrooms in saffron. BC Nagesh, Minister of Department of School Education and Literacy, in an event announced that the classes will be colour coded in saffron. "Viveka new classrooms will be in saffron colour, not because of the ideology it denotes, but because the architects suggested it," said the minister, as quoted by The Hindu.
Opposing the government's decision, Congress MLA from Chittapur Priyank Kharge Monday tweeted, "Crumbling Infrastructure, shortage of teachers, increase in dropouts, no textbooks, no uniforms, no midday meals, learning has dropped but the government is interested in painting schools saffron."
The government earlier announced that the scheme to build new classrooms will be launched on November 14, on the occasion of Children's Day, in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district.