UPSC row: AAP, RJD leaders meet agitating students, assure support

NEW DELHI: Keeping up their agitation against CSAT, scores of UPSC aspirants today staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here with AAP leader Yogendra Yadav, RJD MP Pappu Yadav and JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar joining the stir.

"The movement is not only about Hindi but all the languages in our country. It is a big question mark on the structure of higher education in the country.

The movement is only demanding equality of opportunity for all the languages," Yogendra Yadav said while addressing the protesters.

"We need effective strategies to create pressure on Parliament rather than fighting over petty issues," he added.

Civil service aspirants are seeking the dropping of the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). Candidates are claiming that the pattern of the CSAT puts those who studied in Hindi medium at a disadvantage.

Government had last week announced in Parliament that English marks in CSAT-II will not be included for gradation or merit but the impasse continues with the agitating aspirants sticking to their demand for the complete scrapping of the test.

Ali Anwar assured the students that everybody was concerned about their interests and it was now their responsibility to further the cause.

"Those in power need to act on the issue. It is not a fight against English language but the hegemony it has created," said Anwar.

Pappu Yadav assured the students that he would raise the matter in Parliament.