Cannot use school students in 'Run for Unity' campaign: NCP

Terming the nationwide "Run for Unity" campaign, of the Gujarat government, to mark the 63rd death anniversary of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the RSS' handiwork, the NCP Friday demanded Goa's students should be kept away from it.

Addressing a press conference here, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) vice president Trajano D'Mello said that a circular issued by the state education department asking all schools to participate in the programme headed by BJP's prime minister hopeful Narendra Modi was illegal.

"The directorate of education has no business in getting involved and issuing circular with settle pressure on institutions to participate in this Unity Run," he said.

D'Mello said that it was against law to get students to involve in the "quasi-political" movement which has been organsied by the Vallabhai Patel Rashtriya Trust.

"This is politicization of Goa's students by the RSS," he alleged.

The NCP's charge comes a day after the state education department wrote to educational institutes seeking their participation in the campaign, which is being billed as the largest march in the world.

The event is expected to witness more than 30 lakh participants running in hundreds of locations across India as a tribute to Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India.