While Odisha officials struggle with the Italian hostage crisis, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has come out and accused government schools of being breeding grounds for Naxalism.
“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,” he was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

He was addressing a gathering organised by local organisations in Jaipur.

He also said that all schools in India should be privatised and the government should not get involved with the running of schools.

“Government should not run any school, it should be given to some other system (samstha),” he added.

The Art of Living founder’s comments come amidst Odisha’s Italian hostage crisis where Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and Italian tourist Claudio Colangelo were abducted by Maoists while trekking in Kandhamal on March 14.

The two Italians had driven down from Puri and entered a forested area inspite 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.