"Severe resentment" over PM's Teachers Day programme: Chavan

Amid a row over the Prime Minister's proposed televised interaction with students on Teachers Day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said his government is cooperating with the logistics keeping "delicate" Centre-State relations in mind but there is "severe resentment" among teachers and parents.
"There is severe resentment about this among teachers and parents, but considering the delicate Centre-State relations, my government is cooperating with the logistics. However, the tone of the circular is not good and we will take it up at an appropriate forum," he told reporters.
"The entire official machinery is being used as a propaganda machine for one individual," he said.

Chavan said he was not against children being asked to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the manner in which it is being enforced.
Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani had yesterday said participation of students in the event was "voluntary" and deprecated attempts to "politicise" the issue.
The Chief Minister described the Modi government as "a failure" during its 100 days in office and took a dig at the Prime Minister over his "Minimum Government-Maximum Governance" slogan.
"Minimum government is in complete control of the Prime Minister's office (over the government). Even the Home Minister is not allowed to appoint an aide of his choice. Ministers are being spied upon. Stories about this are deliberately leaked and denials are issued," Chavan said.