Madurai: The head of the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu has urged the federal government to scrap the new draft national education policy as it is an effort to introduce Hindu nationalism.
Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai, president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops Council, says the draft policy aims to impose one language, one religion and one race in India against the country’s secular and diverse nature.
The council that met on July 30 rejected the draft policy, The Times of India reported.
Addressing the media, the archbishop demanded that the government reconstitute the panel, including representatives from tribals, scheduled caste, backward class, minorities and women, to draft a new policy.
The prelate alleged that the panel, which drafted the policy, had strong RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) background.
“The new draft strongly propagates Vedic education with elements of gurukul system of teaching and caste-based occupation, bringing deep divide among students and teachers based on their performance. The draft stresses on introduction of Sanskrit as a third language in schools and yoga as a condition for recognition,” he added.
Meanwhile, members of minority educational institutions organized a mass protest at Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli raising the same demands. Addressing the event, DMK Rajya Sabha MP, MK Kanimozhi said that the new draft is against minorities and oppressed people.
“There is no second opinion that we should have an education system of world-class standard. However, education should be available at local languages,” she said.
Raising doubts about how Sanskrit could provide world-class education, Kanimozhi criticized the federal government for intervening in the state government’s right in education. “Having staged a long protest for social justice, there will be no compromise to sacrifice it,” she said.
The DMK leader also demanded scrapping of the new education policy and reconstitution of the education panel. She also offered DMK’s support in the struggle against the new draft.