‘Will build a movement to counter Bjp-govt’s discriminatory policies’ New Delhi, April 20 (MExN): The North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has condemned the recent decision to make hindi compulsory in CBSE schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas. “The recent President’s approval to the recommendation of a Parliamentary Panel to make Hindi compulsory in CBSE schools, including the state-run Kendriya Vidyalayas is condemnable,” NEFIS stated in a statement on Thursday. “Following this approval, the HRD Ministry has been instructed to form a policy in consultation with the state governments to make the language compulsory,” it added. Arguing that the decision brings out the “discriminatory nature” of the present BJP government which seeks to impose hindi on people coming from non-Hindi linguistic backgrounds, the Forum maintained that it gives “undue importance” to Hindi vis-à-vis other languages of non-Hindi speaking regions by selectively promoting Hindi in CBSE board schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas, which are present in all the parts of the country. The Forum also argued that the decision would further the discrimination against people from other linguistic backgrounds by allowing the present government to renege on its commitment towards preserving and promoting the culture and language of people in different regions of India. “It also nullifies the spirit of diversity upheld by the government of India, wherein preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity of non-Hindi speaking regions is guaranteed,” it added. Further claiming that it has consistently been at the forefront of struggles against “such imposition”, NEFIS made it known that it would be building a “big movement” to counter the “discriminatory policies” in the coming days.
