Amid protests over the draft version of the National Education Policy 2019, the NDA-ruled government at the centre has tweaked the draft. The centre had clarified on Sunday that Hindi will not be thrust upon any state. The centre's education plan is seen by many in the southern states as an attempt to impose Hindi on school students.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar posted identical messages on Twitter, assuring that the draft will be reviewed before implementation. Both the ministers are from Tamil Nadu - the state which has been loudest in its objections - and their tweets were in Tamil.
Raj Thackeray's party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also spoken against the education plan. The official Twitter handle of MNS, quoted state leader and spokesperson Anil Shidore saying: "Hindi is not our mother tongue, do not enforce it on us and incite us.".
Here are the updates on draft of National Education Policy 2019:
Inter mingling of disciplines, options of subjects and that too at various levels of difficult as per interest and aptitude, guidance for career, technology as a medium of learning is necessary.
- Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 3, 2019
Most importantly, we need quality education that is affordable and uniform in information across the nation, yet has a local blend in each State and gives a base for a student for entrepreneurship or to avail a career right after education.
- Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 3, 2019
First you 'brothers' stop clubbing multiple languages older and more significant than #Hindi as southwalla!
- Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) June 3, 2019
Second, learn the names of our states and languages and try to pronounce the names properly. No more thaaamil, kannad, kayral etc. https://t.co/nxmeNNTBXI
Nobody is against #Hindi. The problem lies in #HindiImposition.
- Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) June 3, 2019
There is no effort from #Hindi speakers to learn beautiful regional languages. Why is there this silly expectation that we should prefer #Hindi over a neutral, efficient second language like #English?
One #nation. One #language. One #religion.
- Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) June 3, 2019
This will never happen in #India no matter who does what. Never!
Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda reacting to the row said: "PM had said 'national ambitions, regional aspirations'. Even while addressing Parliament members he said that regional issue should be taken up on priority because regional issues can only show the strength of the country. Just for political purposes, just for casting aspersions against central govt, I don't think it is fair. So far no decision has been taken as far as imposition of Hindi is concerned."
- "3 language policy draft a trial balloon on Tamils"
- "Don't play with feelings of Tamils"
- "DMK will strongly oppose any threat to two language formula in Tamil Nadu"
- "DMK hopes centre will not decide on anything without hearing people's views in a multi- lingual and multi-cultural country"
