Chennai: BJP Tamilnadu president L Murugan has hit out at the DMK for opposing the New Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and accused it of practising ‘modern untouchability’.
He was talking to reporters after performing special pujas to mark the Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations at the BJP headquarters in the city in which special prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of former President Pranab
Mukherjee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and all those infected by Covid-19, including legendary singer SPB and Congress MP H Vasantha Kumar.
Though BJP’s principal ally, the ruling AIADMK also opposed the three-language formula and said it would stick to the existing practice of two-language formula, Murugan singled out DMK president M K Stalin for his opposition to the three language formula, while stating that AIADMK has welcomed the NEP and that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had said that a committee would be formed to study it.
Referring to BJP leader C P Radhakrishnan’s remarks that after DMK, the AIADMK (which had banned installation of Vinayaka idols in public places due to pandemic) was hurting the Hindu sentiments and that it would reflect in the Assembly elections due in 7-8 months, Murugan said Palaniswami was following the spiritual path and has celebrated the Vinayaka Chathurthi festival at his residence.
Palaniswami also greeted the people of the occasion, but Stalin has not been extending greetings for any Hindu festival.
He had not greeted the people for Ganesh Chathurthi and also for Krishna Jayanthi, Murugan said and added that it would definitely reflect in the elections.
When asked why the BJP was singling out Stalin for opposing the three-language formula, he said more than three or four languages had been taught in CBSE and Matriculation schools and in private schools.
But Stalin is opposing the three-language formula in government schools and it is nothing but ‘modern untouchability’.
“What is wrong in government school students studying a third language, when the students are willing”, he asked.
Batting for holding the NEET and JEE exams, Murugan said if the exams were not conducted, one year period of student would go waste and there was need for more doctors in the present situation. Earlier, Murugan and senior BJP leaders offered specual pujas to a statue of Lord Ganesha, sitting on a Rafael aircraft with 18 hands, which was written with the achievements of the BJP government at the Centre, including Abrogation of Article 370, schemes for farmers and other measures.