Smriti Irani told Parliament yesterday that IITs have been requested to teach Sanskrit
Highlights
- Yesterday, Education Minister said IITs were asked to teach Sanskrit
- She cited a report suggesting it could facilitate study of science
- Attempt to sneak in RSS agenda, alleges opposition
Union Minister Smriti Irani's "request" to IITs or Indian Institutes of Technology to teach Sanskrit provoked strong reactions from opposition parties, who accused the government of imposing its agenda on one of the world's most prestigious institutions.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, mocked it in tweets, saying computer language should be declared "anti-national".
Ms Irani, the Education Minister, told Parliament yesterday that IITs have been asked to teach Sanskrit to facilitate the study of science and technology as reflected in its literature.
She cited the report of a panel that had suggested that IITs "may facilitate study of science
and technology as reflected in Sanskrit literature along with inter-disciplinary study of Sanskrit and modern subjects."
Parties like the Left and Congress have alleged an attempt to sneak in the agenda of the RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the mentor of the ruling BJP.
Uttar Pradesh politician Mayawati alleged a "continuous effort to implement the RSS agenda" since the BJP came to power in 2014. "I don't think it should be forced...it should be left to students' interest," she said.
"Why only Sanskrit? Why not Tamil? It's the RSS agenda and the government is working on it. The government should take Parliament into confidence as this is a policy matter," said Left parliamentarian D Raja.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said: "I don't think an IIT engineer will need Sanskrit in his profession. It is not right to force something like this."
Defending the government, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi, a former education minister, said: "Sanskrit is the best language for I-T."