Why Only Gujarati? Mamata Banerjee Questions Centre’s Decision Of Making Gujarati Optional Language In JEE(Main)

Expressing displeasure over including Gujarati as an optional language in Joint Entrance Examination(JEE) Main, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, questioned the government as to why only Gujarati, and no other regional language, was included.

Criticizing the Centre’s decision through a series of tweets, Banerjee alleged that the central government’s intention is to malign all regions and regional languages. “Our country is India, which is home to so many religions, cultures, languages, creeds and communities. However, maligning all regions and regional languages is the intention of the government at the centre.”

Our country is India, which is home to so many religions, cultures, languages, creeds and communities.
However, maligning all regions and regional languages is the intention of the government at the centre. (1/4)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2019

In 2014, The Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) had added Urdu, Marathi and Gujarati as optional languages for JEE (Main). But, they later dropped Urdu and Marathi in 2016, while keeping Gujarati along with Hindi and English.

“Joint Entrance Exams so long were conducted in English and Hindi languages. Surprisingly, now only Gujarati language has been added. Such a step is not at all praiseworthy,” she tweeted.

Joint Entrance Exams so long were conducted in English and Hindi languages. Surprisingly, now only Gujarati language has been added.
Such a step is not at all praiseworthy. (2/4)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2019

She further added that ignoring other languages was injust. “I love Gujarati language. But, why have other regional languages been ignored? Why injustice is being meted out to them? If Gujarati has to be there, then all regional languages including Bengali must be there,” she said.

I love Gujarati language. But, why have other regional languages been ignored?
Why injustice is being meted out to them?
If Gujarati has to be there, then all regional languages including Bengali must be there. (3/4)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2019

She also tweeted that unless the issue is decided gracefully, there will be strong protests, “as sentiments of people who speak other regional languages would be deeply hurt due to this injustice.”

Unless this issue is decided gracefully, there will be strong protests all around as sentiments of people who speak other regional languages would be deeply hurt due to this injustice. (4/4)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2019

From 2019, the exam will be conducted by National Testing Agency(NTA). As per the notification of JEE 2020 released by NTA, the students are required to choose the language of question paper while filling the online application form. For all centre cities, the optional languages available are Hindi and English. While for the candidates from centre cities in Gujarat, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, the languages are English, Hindi, and Gujarati.

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