Even as the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha demanded an all-party meeting on the UPSC row in this session of Parliament, the government on Friday said since the issues required “application of mind and in depth study,” such a meeting would be convened after the preliminary civil services examination scheduled on August 24.
Responding to the demand raised during zero hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the issue had been discussed “threadbare” and nothing could be done the eleventh hour when students were preparing for examination.
“There are contradictory views, also in the other House, on the row which is not of our making. The issue has been there for the last three years. This requires a detailed study and deeper discussion. After the examination, the government will call an all-party meeting, talk to experts and also take the UPSC into confidence in the matter.”
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad asked the government not to allow the situation to go out of control and divide the country on the basis of language. “There is no dispute between English and other languages. People want English and other languages too. The row should be resolved while the House is in session or else if reaches the streets it would not be in the interest of the nation,” he warned.
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav said the matter could be resolved if the second paper of the Civil Services Aptitude Test was made optional or qualifying. He said he had given a privilege notice on varying assurances from the government.
