The DMK, Tamil Nadu’s main Opposition party, came out in the open on Monday demanding the immediate quashing of the draft National Education Policy (NEP) proposals initiated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development. MK Stalin, leader of the Opposition, declared that the DMK would bring in a resolution in the State Assembly against the NEP, which he termed as a conspiracy to saffronise the country’s education sector.
Addressing a mammoth rally at Chennai, Stalin lambasted the BJP Government for the “retrograde” measures which according to him would communalise the country’s youth. The Dravida Kazhakam leader K Veeramani, who also owns a private university and many professional colleges said his party as well as educational institutions would support the agitation against the NEP.
Monday also saw hundreds of students from schools owned by Christian management staging demonstration in Chennai with placards “RIP our future” and “Down with the Saffronisation drive” .
Tamil Nadu Priests Council and Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Nuns Council, two powerful organisations in the State wielding major influence too have come out demanding a thorough overhaul in the proposals in the draft NEP. “The draft proposals posted on the website of the Ministry of Human Resources are totally against the guarantees offered to the minorities in the Indian Constitution,” said a statement issued by the councils.
The council charged that the proposals are meant for the introduction of vedic education, gurukul system, Sanskritisation and introduction of compulsory yoga classes. “There is no need of village schools. The draft proposal should have a socialist character,” said the release. Both the councils expressed their reservations on the move to introduce vedic education and gurukula system and declated they would vehemently oppose any move to tinker with the socialist and secular character of the education sector.
JS Rajput, former chief of the National Council of Education Research and Training, said those opposing the proposals of the draft NEP were doing so without reading and comprehending the report. “There is no saffronisation drive or hidden agenda behind these proposals. The proposals are in synch with the 2002 Supreme Court verdict in the Aruna Roy Vs Government of India,” said Rajput.
The crux of the verdict was that education should give special emphasis to the culture and heritage of India. “No child could be educated without telling him/her about the rich cultural heritage of the nation,” said Rajput who was involved in the drafting of the previous NEP.