Yogendra Upadhyay, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Higher Education and Science and Technology, sparked a controversy over his statement that two popular English nursery rhymes – ‘Johnny Johnny Yes Papa’ and ‘Rain Rain Go Away’ – sow seeds of dishonesty in the minds of children and are against Indian values and culture. Upadhyay first spoke about the rhymes at an event in Agra earlier this week while addressing a gathering of Shiksha Mitras (ad hoc teachers in government primary schools). He referred to them on Saturday as well while speaking at an event, addressing students and teachers of a prominent private school in Lucknow . When contacted, Upadhyay explained the reason behind his criticism of the message in the two rhymes. He said, “What does this rhyme teach (us) — Johnny Johnny Yes Papa, Eating Sugar No Papa, Telling Lies No Papa, Open Your Mouth Ha Ha Ha. These lines teach children to tell lies.…