AHEAD OF the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, the Devendra Fadnavis government has asked all junior colleges in the state to hold public speaking competitions on its flagship schemes. The state school education department has on July 24 issued orders in this regard, requiring all the 7,100 junior colleges in Maharashtra to organise such competitions. Further, the best three speakers in each college will qualify for an inter-college competition at the taluka level, from where the candidates would advance for an oratorical competition at the district and later at the state level. The state government has set aside Rs 1.31 crore for the competitions. But just as the department justified the move by saying that it was being done to enhance leadership qualities among the youth, the Opposition has raised a red flag. Questioning the timing of the move, the Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of misusing the official machinery for election campaign. With the department order stating that the competition is to be held between August 1 and August 30, the Congress has alleged that this had been planned keeping in mind the election model code of conduct. “We are planning to meet the Governor seeking his intervention. We expect him to take serious cognizance and issue directives to the government to withdraw the orders,” said Patole. When contacted, School Education Minister Ashish Shelar said, “There is nothing political about it. The competitions are being held with a view to enhance the elocution skills and for inculcating leadership qualities among our youth.. “I can assure the Opposition that the platform will not be used to spread any political ideology. I am appealing to them, especially the Congress, not to politicise the matter,” he added.
