"Before introducing the Gita in schools, the government will have a thorough discussion with a cross-section of society. We don't want any controversy in this regard," Gowda told reporters on the sidelines of Bhagavad Gita Abhiyan organised by various religious mutts here. "The Bhagavad Gita doesn't belong to a particular religion or a sect as its teachings are universal. It aims at refining mankind and other religions have appreciated its philosophical teachings," Gowda said. He expressed confidence that all sections of people would agree to the government's proposal to include the Gita in school syllabus. "It is already being taught in Madhya Pradesh," he added. In July last year, primary and secondary education minister Visveshwara Hegde Kageri announced that the Gita would be taught in schools in Kolar and the minister's remarks drew sharp criticism. Kageri remained unfazed by the opposition and remarked that those opposing the government initiative should leave the country and maintained that nobody could find anything wrong with the teaching of the Gita. The opposition Congress and Janata Dal(S) had objected to his remarks and dubbed the move as an attempt to saffronise education by the RSS lobby in BJP. In August, a petition challenging the state government's circular on teaching of the Gita in schools was filed in the Karnataka high court. But the court disposed of the petition after the government said the Bhagavad Gita programme was neither sponsored nor funded by it.