Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Govt schools create Naxals

At a time when both the Centre and the Odisha government is trying hard to resolve the Italian hostage crisis, spiritual guru and the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has labeled the government schools as the breeding grounds for the Naxals.

Holding the uncaring attitude and mismanagement of the government-run schools responsible for turning out a large number of home-grown rebels, the spiritual guru even advised the government that it should not run any school and should depute the responsibility to some other institution or system.

"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 (adarsh) and teachers are responsible for it," he was quoted as saying by media reports on Wednesday.

The rather bold statement made by Sri Sri, who is largely seen as a non-controversial and highly revered figure in the country, is likely to baffle both the Centre and the Odisha government, which is trying hard to end the Italian hostage crisis at the earlist.

His remarks come nearly a week after two Italians - Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo - were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14.

The two men had driven down from Puri and entered a forested area in spite of being warned by the Daringibadi police about the presence of Maoists.

A driver and cook who were accompanying them and their vehicle were released by the Maoists subsequently.