Mumbai:
The notification by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to scrap regional language paper has left many aspirants in the lurch. In states like Maharashtra, it is causing heartburn among students.
Many leaders and regional parties in Maharashtra are already up in arms against the move, and the Centre is going to have a tough time defending what is being seen as language bias. Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), concerned that the move will affect Marathi speaking students, have garnered support on the issue.
The issue even dominated Assembly proceedings on the first day of the Budget Session of the Maharashtra Assembly. "Why is there discrimination for a particular language? Why only in English? We are not against any language but we are for the local people's rights," Shiv Sena MLA Neelam Gorhe said.
Candidates from the socially or financially backward classes, including those from tribal communities, feel their chances would be spoilt due to the new rules. So do students who are not fluent in English.
Gaurav Ashok Lad, a student who was planning to appear for the exam in Marathi says, "Even if the students want to give the exam in their regional language it is not possible. It is a little unfair." Some of them are, however, demanding a rollback. "We have decided that we are going to write the exam in Marathi. We studied the syllabus content in Marathi, now suddenly I am going to study a new language like English. It is going to become very difficult. They should roll back the decision," said Anway Vasant Jaawalkar, another student.
With the calls for a rollback of this decision growing, the government now has a tough job on its hands - to ensure fair play and convince aspirants about it as well.