Mumbai: The Congress has objected to the Maharashtra government's order asking junior colleges across the state to hold 'Yuva Sansad' elocution competitions, accusing it of attempting to "influence young minds".
The state government, through its order on July 24, asked 9,700 junior colleges to conduct elocution competitions and authorised the district education officer to supervise such events.
According to the Government Resolution (GR), the competition is an attempt towards empowerment of youth. It aims to create awareness among students in the age group of 15 to 19 years about generating new ideas, seeking suggestions on the implementation of government schemes and getting to know their expectations from the government, says the GR.
During the competitions, students are expected to speak on the central government's various welfare schemes, like the Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ujjwala Scheme, and Ayushman Bharat Scheme, among others.
However, the Maharashtra Congress' campaign committee chief Nana Patole said the topics for debate have nothing to do with the educational curriculum of students.
"The scheme has been conceptualised with an eye on the state Assembly elections (due in September-October) and to influence the young minds with the BJP's agenda. The students are being roped in for BJP's poll campaign," Patole alleged. The opposition will protest against "politicisation of education" if the decision to conduct the 'Yuva Sansad' events is not revoked, he added.
