Public can give its suggestions by July 31

NEW DELHI: Emphasising the fact that views of all stakeholders despite their ideological differences will be taken into account while giving a final shape to the

NEW DELHI: Emphasising the fact that views of all stakeholders despite their ideological differences will be taken into account while giving a final shape to the National Education policy, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday asked public to give their suggestions by July 31.

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Speaking at an event organised by RSS-linked body Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal (BSM) and pro-BJP think-tank Bharat Niti, he said that society also needed to pitch in rather than expecting government to take initiatives.

Sharing his vision of education that should be accessible, affordable, high quality and encourage research and innovation, Javadekar asked the public to not just complain but participate in governance. The minister said that there was speculation over his attending the event. However, he said that different views can co-exist in a democracy. “I was invited here, so I came; if others will invite me, I will also go there,” he said. “We need views from all ideologies. We need each and every suggestion because I believe education is a national mission to take the country ahead.”

“After all what we need is good education, which can provide a strong foundation for life,” he said, adding “this is not at all a BJP-Congress issue”.

His views have come in the backdrop of the various allegations of saffronisation made by the opposition against the BJP-led government. BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao, Mukul Kanitkar of BSM, and former NCERT director JS Rajput spoke of reviving Sanskrit and discussed issues like encouraging regional languages, getting out of the “colonial hangover”, and ensuring that India becomes a ‘ guru’ (world leader).