Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka criticized the Congress government for eliminating Hindi as a third language for Class 10 students, stating that the decision has negatively impacted students’ futures. Ashoka expressed that the move was politically motivated rather than driven by a love for Kannada.
Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka highlighted that the Education Department’s sudden removal of Hindi as a third language has caused significant disruption, especially during the exam period. He emphasized that many students had prepared for Hindi as a subject, making the abrupt change problematic.
Ashoka pointed out the historical significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s involvement in promoting Hindi in South India back in 1918. He criticized Congress leaders for overlooking this history and abruptly scrapping Hindi as a subject, emphasizing the importance of being considerate towards children’s educational needs.
Ashoka underscored the global importance of English as a communication language across nations and raised concerns about the impact of the government’s decision on students who had anticipated excelling in Hindi. He criticized the government for what he perceived as a weakness, stating that the move not only reflects poorly on the government but also disrespects Mahatma Gandhi.
He questioned the government’s decision-making process by comparing it to previous instances where Congress leaders had protested against similar actions. Ashoka criticized the government for deviating from the three-language formula introduced by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later reinforced by Indira Gandhi.
Ashoka further alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka has neglected the issue of ensuring that Muslims in the state speak proper Kannada. He criticized the government’s approach and accused them of playing vote-bank politics at the expense of children’s educational prospects.
He expressed confidence in the BJP’s ability to implement the National Education Policy in the future, providing language options that cater to diverse student needs. Ashoka also voiced optimism about the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming by-elections in Davanagere and Bagalkot, citing discontent among Muslims in Davanagere and voters in Bagalkot towards the Congress.
