In the backdrop of the ongoing Italian hostage issue in Odisha, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has blamed government schools for the increase in Naxal violence while addressing a gathering in Jaipur.
The founder of Art of Living alleged the government schools are "breeding grounds for Naxalism". He suggested pulling down of government schools across the state and handing over the business to private authorities. Here it could be mentioned that Sri Sri also runs a number of educational instructions.
"It's often seen that boys from government schools are into Naxalism and violence. Those from the private education system are not into these things. They move ahead with an ideal and teachers are responsible for it," the Indian Express quoted Sri Sri saying.
"Government should not run any school, it should be given to some other system (samstha)," he added.
Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and Italian tourist Claudio Colangelo were abducted by Maoists when they violated the restricted area, undermining the warning about presence of extremists by the Daringibadi police.
The other two, a driver and a cook, who were taken into the hostage along with Italians were later freed by the Maoists.
