Recently, the students appearing for Class 10 and 12 exams across several schools in Gujarat were given pens that had “I love Modi” written on them.

Not just that, the pens were packaged in saffron covers and carried a picture of PM Modi and BJP’s party symbol the lotus. The pens have been manufactured by a private firm Today’s Writing Instruments, and were distributed across schools in Ahmedabad, Vadnagar and Gandhinagar, Aaj Tak reported.

Principals of schools in Ahmedabad told The Times of India that they received 10 packets of NAMO pens each, with one packet containing five pens. This was accompanied by a letter from the firm claiming that these were gifts being distributed by permission from Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) chairman and deputy chairman.

The principal of an Ahmedabad school told the paper, “This kind of politicisation of exams has never been allowed. The pens came packed with a big image of the party symbol as well.”

Meanwhile board authorities told The Times of India that, “The pen company had approached us some five months back with the proposal but we had refused since it involved the use of a political party’s symbol.”

But the head of promotion in Gujarat for Today’s pens, Suresh Zaveri said, “We came up with this idea three years ago, when Modi was Gujarat chief minister. We first went to him to show him samples of the pen. He liked our idea and gave his permission to distribute the writing tool.”

Zaveri also said that they had met GSHSEB office bearers who had provided the list of schools.