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UP education minister claims nursery rhymes teach children to lie sparks outrage
India
Published on 10 May 2026
He says famous rhymes train kids in dishonesty
Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay has sparked backlash by calling popular nursery rhymes like “Johnny Johnny Yes Papa” and “Rain Rain Go Away” harmful to Indian culture. He claimed the rhymes promote dishonesty and selfishness, asking what society is teaching children. The remarks drew attention for challenging common childhood rhyming traditions.
- UP minister calls nursery rhymes harmful to Indian culture
- He alleges “Johnny Johnny” and “Rain Rain” encourage children to lie
- He contrasts the rhymes with values like welfare and harmony with nature
- The comments have triggered controversy and public debate
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times