Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 23: Differing from the views of the other members of the House, both ruling alliance and opposition, almost all of whom, showered praises on Education Ministry, the grants of which were debated in the State Assembly today, former Chief Minister and NC Legislature Party leader, Omar Abdullah showed the way that there is a room for healthy opposition also.
The NC leader said though he was for the first time participating in the debate on the annual grants of any Ministry other than Chief Minister’s grants, the Education being an important subject so he has decided to participate on debate of this Ministry also.
Omar said that mostly all members supported the Ministry as they were eyeing on new 18 degree colleges to be established in the State and every member think that he will get one. “But I don’t want to fall in this as it is a short term measure’’, he added.
The NC leader said opening of schools will not only serve the purpose as the Government has to concentrate in making the entire education system better in the State. In Budgam district of Kashmir valley, the literacy percentage is less than Ramban district of Jammu region, he added.
He said “not only one Government is responsible for it but previous regimes too as we got this in legacy. Till the improvement is not made in the system we can’t succeed in increasing literacy rate and attain success’’.
Omar said opening of schools, colleges and increasing infrastructure is not enough but the efforts have to be made to improve literacy. “My father’s time Matric pass was a great thing but now it is the time of competition and we have to compete with private institutions’’, he added.
He said in Doda district a student of Government school gets 60 percent marks while in comparison to that of private school gets 90 percent marks. Likewise in Budgam district the student of the Government school gets 50 percent marks while that of private school gets much higher than him. “This gap has to be bridged and the same can be done by improving the standard in Government schools,” he added.
The NC leader besides, upgradation, stressed on improving the standard of education and bettering the system in Education Department as a whole. The infrastructure will only improve after the change is brought in the Education system,” he said and stressed on improving the standard of education in the State.
Earlier during the debate the remarks of NC MLA Javed Rana on RSS and saffronization evoked strong protest from BJP members. The MLA, while speaking on the grants said the saffronization in the country especially of the Education system is cause of concern.
“The way the Education system is saffronized it is a cause of concern for one and all’’, he added.
“The MLA said that the NEET chairman has the background of RSS so where we are taking the country this way’’ ?
This was strongly countered by BJP MLA, Rajiv Jasrotia and he was later supported by other members of his party including, Dilip Parihar, Jeevan Lal, Party chief whip, Rajesh Gupta and Neelam Langeh who all stood up and registered their protest against the remarks of NC MLA.
The MLA, however, quoted a song “Hindu Musalman Ki Jaan, Mera Hindustan Main Usko Doond Raha Hoon’’. Supporting his Party colleague, Ali Mohammed Sagar retorted from his seat “Surya Namaskar’’.
Meanwhile, Speaker asked PDP’s Yawar Mir to speak on grants and this provoked Rana who started protest from his seat and later came to Well of the House. He also accused Speaker Kavinder Gupta of running RSS agenda in the House.
However, the Speaker asked “what is wrong in RSS? Every thing is fine there.” On this, Sagar also passed a remark. The protesting Rana said “Aap Mahatma Key Katil Ho’’ (you are killers of Mahatma Gandhi) aur “Pakistan Aap Ne Banaya’’ (you created Pakistan). “You are the enemy of nation’’, he added. Speaker said that every one knows who killed Mahatma and BJP members retorted that it was the Congress which made partition of the country.
Later NC’s Akbar Lone intervened and requested the Speaker “let Rana speak as you are neither the Speaker of RSS nor BJP but you are the Speaker of the House’’. When Speaker asked Rana to take his seat and resume his speech, the order was restored in the House.
Earlier while participating in the debate Ali Mohammed Sagar of NC also raked up the saffronization issue. He said BJP is trying to Saffronize education all over India and attempts are being made to change the names of Lucknow, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) etc.
Terming it vandalization of education, he said they (BJP) are not sparing former Prime Minister, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru saying he did nothing for country. He wanted to know what sort of education system is being imposed in the country.
The NC MLA said as Financer Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu compromised on GST “I doubt that one day they may compromise on education saying it is Central subject’’.
Interrupting him, MoS Education, Priya Sethi said that these remarks be expunged as he is talking about HRD Ministry . “NC president, Dr Farooq Abdullah is in Lok Sabha and let him raise the issue there as it didn’t pertain to J&K’’. She asked Speaker to expunge these remarks.
Opposing this, Sagar said that he is also Indian citizen and has every right to criticize what he feels wrong for the system and he needs no certificate from any one.
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