New Delhi: Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Monday ducked a question on making Hindi compulsory in school education across the country under the new education policy.
Asauddin Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen tried to corner the minister on the issue during the question hour in the Lok Sabha.
Pokhriyal, however, wriggled out, telling him to give suggestions as the new policy has not yet been finalised. It is only a draft policy as recommended by the panel headed by Dr K Kasturi Rangan and he is open to recommendations. The policy will be enforced only after consultations, he underlined.
Since the question came towards the end of the question hour, Speaker Om Birla quickly switched over to other business. When AIADMK leader TR Baalu and others insisted on answer to the Hindi question, the Speaker said they can seek a half-hour discussion on the subject separately.
Pokhriyal had the same answer when Owaisi wanted to know if the government agrees with the recommendation to open more schools in the Muslim areas having under representation.
Dr Pritam Gopinath (BJP) wanted to know if the Urdu medium schools will be promoted under the new policy. "Our goal is to strengthen all Indian languages and so promotion of Urdu will also be with full force," the minister said.
