CSAT row: UPSC aspirants continue protest

NEW DELHI: The BJP-led government’s decision to placate agitating Hindimedium students by announcing that English comprehension test would not be considered for grading candidates in the preliminary leg of the civil service examination triggered a political backlash with many regional parties forcing adjournments of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Members from regional parties sought question papers in other languages and criticised the government’s pro-Hindi decision. Some Congress members from Karnataka and Kerala too demanded the government retain status quo. Protests disrupted business of both the Houses during pre-lunch session.

Congress, which too had backed agitating Hindi-medium students demand, tactically let party MPs from non-Hindi speaking states to take stands convenient to the students of their respective states. SP, BSP, CPM, CPI, DMK and AIADMK members were on their feet raising the issue, with each tailoring their demands to suit their political constituency.

Most of them sought scrapping of the CSAT pattern of examination and demanded question papers of preliminary examination in all languages. AIADMK members trooped into the well of the House, demanding that question papers of UPSC exams be available in Tamil.