Hello Bloggers,
Its an important time for the nation.
Guess What !
Its Election time, there has been quite some interesting trends and shifts in the political scenario and the topic we'll discuss today is the Sawajawdi Party's Election Manifesto which has raised quite a few eyebrows, Herein is a report i have prepared just go through it and comment what you feel about.
SP manifesto: Back to dark ages?
The Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto clearly said that they are against English education and the use of computers besides many other suggestions.
Justifying the 16-page manifesto, Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav reportedly said that abolition of what is being termed as “expensive education in English” would settle down social disparity and provide an equal footing to aspirants from the National language as well as regional ones.
Elucidating further, he alleged, that sectors wherein work can be executed physically sans the aid of machines, computers would be abolished.
Going against the ‘grain’ of development which has been set by English as the medium of instruction and communication in workplaces and institutes, the leader reportedly said that the party manifesto will ensure that ‘English’ as a language will be removed from offices and Educational institutes.
In the launch of the manifesto, Mulayam took a dig at Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh which was an open response to the PM’s statement in which he said that he would have resigned had the Indo-US Nuclear deal fallen on the floor of the house in July last year.
Mulayam affirmed that his party had saved Mr. Singh from resigning but the latter got humiliation in return.
Projecting the party as a scapegoat, the SP veteran claimed that the UPA government has overlooked and insulted the 39 member strong ally.
The manifesto has been at the receiving end from various quarters especially, the opposition parties which has leveled their propositions against it.
Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of UPA party president, Sonia Gandhi, who was campaigning in Sonia’s and brother Rahul’s constituencies spoke to reporters in Amethi regarding the SP manifesto “I don’t think it was drafted by a serious person, they (party people) should rethink about the issue because such promises in the 21st century seem surprising.”
Priyanka stressing on the Computer issue added, “banning computers won’t take the people anywhere. It will not benefit anyone.”
Besides, the issue of English education and computers, Mulayam also threw his weight behind opposing the use of agricultural machineries (tractors, harvesters etc.) claiming that these deprived poor labourers of their opportunities during the harvest season.
Interestingly, he has another point of justification behind this suggestion which holds that cattle should take over the tractors as regards ploughing of land so that they don’t end up going to the slaughter houses.
Of what seems like taking a leaf from the Left, he affirmed that though the party had strong ties with the corporate world, it advocates as per the manifesto to corporate salaries on par with government pay.
The manifesto also pledged issuing of visas to Muslim students from South Asia, Middle East and European countries after a gap of 15 years for studying at the Islamic education centre of Darul-Uloom Deoband in UP.
All said and done, it is difficult to comprehend as to how the party think-tank consider these promises populist and vote-winning in a century when the poorest of Indians aspire for “ English education” or try to learn the minimum of computer skills.
Statistics show most of the Indian states which had abolished “English” in the state run schools in the seventies and eighties have now reversed their policies. One can see that even former chief minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu who had opposed the computerisation of government departments backtracked towards the end of his tenure.
The suggestions of the manifesto puts some serious questions on Mulayam’s ultimate objective for it is known that he had served as a central minister (holding the Defence portfolio) which casts no doubts on his traveling abroad. This itself suggests that he is aware of the fact that India’s reputation outside is built on the twin-engines of a considerable English knowing population besides its I.T. proficiency.
This debatable manifesto contradicts the law of the land for even the Constitution mandates over 20 languages, including English. India’s vast diversity being a reason, the language essays an instrumental role of providing the only politically acceptable medium of communication, given the fact that the Southern states will not accept Hindi.
As far as the “expensive” element of the language is concerned, it is only because of the premium attached to knowledge of the same.
The Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto clearly said that they are against English education and the use of computers besides many other suggestions.
Justifying the 16-page manifesto, Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav reportedly said that abolition of what is being termed as “expensive education in English” would settle down social disparity and provide an equal footing to aspirants from the National language as well as regional ones.
Elucidating further, he alleged, that sectors wherein work can be executed physically sans the aid of machines, computers would be abolished.
Going against the ‘grain’ of development which has been set by English as the medium of instruction and communication in workplaces and institutes, the leader reportedly said that the party manifesto will ensure that ‘English’ as a language will be removed from offices and Educational institutes.
In the launch of the manifesto, Mulayam took a dig at Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh which was an open response to the PM’s statement in which he said that he would have resigned had the Indo-US Nuclear deal fallen on the floor of the house in July last year.
Mulayam affirmed that his party had saved Mr. Singh from resigning but the latter got humiliation in return.
Projecting the party as a scapegoat, the SP veteran claimed that the UPA government has overlooked and insulted the 39 member strong ally.
The manifesto has been at the receiving end from various quarters especially, the opposition parties which has leveled their propositions against it.
Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of UPA party president, Sonia Gandhi, who was campaigning in Sonia’s and brother Rahul’s constituencies spoke to reporters in Amethi regarding the SP manifesto “I don’t think it was drafted by a serious person, they (party people) should rethink about the issue because such promises in the 21st century seem surprising.”
Priyanka stressing on the Computer issue added, “banning computers won’t take the people anywhere. It will not benefit anyone.”
Besides, the issue of English education and computers, Mulayam also threw his weight behind opposing the use of agricultural machineries (tractors, harvesters etc.) claiming that these deprived poor labourers of their opportunities during the harvest season.
Interestingly, he has another point of justification behind this suggestion which holds that cattle should take over the tractors as regards ploughing of land so that they don’t end up going to the slaughter houses.
Of what seems like taking a leaf from the Left, he affirmed that though the party had strong ties with the corporate world, it advocates as per the manifesto to corporate salaries on par with government pay.
The manifesto also pledged issuing of visas to Muslim students from South Asia, Middle East and European countries after a gap of 15 years for studying at the Islamic education centre of Darul-Uloom Deoband in UP.
All said and done, it is difficult to comprehend as to how the party think-tank consider these promises populist and vote-winning in a century when the poorest of Indians aspire for “ English education” or try to learn the minimum of computer skills.
Statistics show most of the Indian states which had abolished “English” in the state run schools in the seventies and eighties have now reversed their policies. One can see that even former chief minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu who had opposed the computerisation of government departments backtracked towards the end of his tenure.
The suggestions of the manifesto puts some serious questions on Mulayam’s ultimate objective for it is known that he had served as a central minister (holding the Defence portfolio) which casts no doubts on his traveling abroad. This itself suggests that he is aware of the fact that India’s reputation outside is built on the twin-engines of a considerable English knowing population besides its I.T. proficiency.
This debatable manifesto contradicts the law of the land for even the Constitution mandates over 20 languages, including English. India’s vast diversity being a reason, the language essays an instrumental role of providing the only politically acceptable medium of communication, given the fact that the Southern states will not accept Hindi.
As far as the “expensive” element of the language is concerned, it is only because of the premium attached to knowledge of the same.
Thank you all
Comment everyone.
Cheers.
Peace.
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