Patna:
A political controversy has broken out in Bihar after the BJP-led NDA government decided to repaint 551 newly inaugurated model schools in saffron and rename them “Saraswati Vidya Niketan”, drawing criticism from the opposition and prompting differing responses within the ruling alliance.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who inaugurated the schools in Begusarai on Sunday, launched the initiative that involves repainting the buildings in a shade identified by the education department as “Sunrise” (colour code 0526), with doors painted gold brown. Officials said the directive applies to all 551 model schools across the state.
At BP Intermediate School in Begusarai, one of the schools included in the programme, principal Kamini Kumari said the repainting was carried out following instructions from the education department.
“We received a letter around two months ago directing all model schools to repaint their exterior using the prescribed colour code. The work has taken nearly two months because our campus has four separate buildings. The classrooms remain white to ensure adequate lighting for students, while only the exterior has been repainted,” she said.
Students at the school said preparations for the inauguration had been underway for several days and noted that the building’s exterior had changed from its earlier red colour to orange.
The move has become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging that the government is attempting to promote a particular political and religious identity through public educational institutions.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said his party opposed the decision to paint government schools saffron. AIMIM’s Bihar president Akhtarul Iman described the move as an attempt at “saffronisation”, alleging that public money was being used to advance a particular religious agenda. He argued that such decisions could weaken social harmony and democratic values.
The government rejected the criticism, saying the focus should remain on improving education rather than the colour of school buildings.
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said colours should not become a source of political division and defended the initiative, saying the government had invested in modern educational infrastructure for children from all communities. He also said saffron symbolised Goddess Saraswati and prosperity, adding that the government’s priority remained improving the quality of education.
Higher Education Minister Sanjay Tiger also criticised the political debate surrounding the issue, saying education should not be politicised.
The controversy has also generated discussion within the ruling NDA. JD(U), the BJP’s coalition partner led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sought to distance itself from the debate over colours.
Senior JD(U) leader and Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary said the opposition should instead examine whether educational standards had improved during the NDA government’s tenure. JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar said the government believed in “politics of development” rather than “politics of colour”, describing the opening of more than 500 model schools as a positive step.
The Bihar government has maintained that the repainting and renaming are part of the model school project and that all schools covered under the scheme will follow the same design and colour specifications. Opposition parties, however, have indicated they will continue to challenge the decision, keeping the issue at the centre of Bihar’s political debate.
(With inputs Santosh Prasad)
